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If I don't know the word in English when I'm talking, I'll say "thingy/thing" - until someone corrects me or I settle with a better word.

Ex:

Use that thingy over there to make it work. Uhh...that thing, uh - the button? The port? Whatever it's called. Yeah, that thing.

I have heard from a Venezuelan that they use "vaina". "¿Qué es la vaina...?"

Is there a word like thing/thing in Spanish that is recognized in both Spain and most of Latin America? Something that I can use to keep the convo going in a more native way while not knowing the right word like I do in English? Is it just cosa?

Thank you!

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  • Hello indikoro and welcome to Spanish Language! This is a good question, post, er... whatever, a good thingy :) Note that something quite related was asked a while ago: ¿Cuál es la palabra para algo que no se sabe cómo decir?. Take a look at it and, if it helps, let us know so we can link this question to that one (mark as duplicate). By the way, in the responses there I cannot find a generic one, this seems to be very area-dependent.
    – fedorqui
    Commented Jun 16, 2017 at 19:30
  • "cosita" me suena bien aquí.
    – Paul
    Commented Jun 17, 2017 at 1:40
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    It's not that easy. Thing is more integral in the english language (some-thing; any-thing; is that a thing now?;....), and usage as an interjection as you describe is def. frowned upon and does not convey clarity. For the diminutives and the problems entailed therewith, have a look here: es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diminutivo . Other than that cosilla or cosita will be understood by many.
    – Lorenz Lo Sauer
    Commented Jun 17, 2017 at 11:02

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