🔹Deverbal Nouns Ending in -a

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Many Spanish nouns are formed from verbs by adding the ending -a to the verbal stem. These nouns usually refer to:

an action or activity: la compra — buying;
an event: la protesta — protest;
the result of an action: la mezcla — mixture;
an object or product connected with the action: la conserva — preserve.

Most nouns in this group are feminine and are used with la or una:

la compra, una pregunta, la entrega

Some of these nouns have the same form as a conjugated verb. The article and the context show whether the word is a noun or a verb:

La compra fue muy cara.(The purchase was very expensive.)

Ella compra ropa.(She buys clothes.)

#	Spanish Noun	Noun in English	Infinitive Verb	Verb in English
1	cuenta	account; bill; calculation	contar	to count; tell
2	pregunta	question	preguntar	to ask
3	falta	lack; absence; fault; foul	faltar	to lack; be absent; miss
4	ayuda	help; assistance; aid	ayudar	to help
5	prueba	test; proof; trial	probar	to test; prove; try
6	obra	work; construction project; literary work	obrar	to act; work
7	duda	doubt	dudar	to doubt
8	muestra	sample; example; exhibition	mostrar	to show; display
9	espera	waiting; wait	esperar	to wait; hope
10	visita	visit	visitar	to visit
11	marcha	march; operation; progress	marchar	to march; function; leave
12	lucha	fight; struggle	luchar	to fight; struggle
13	pelea	fight; argument; quarrel	pelear	to fight; argue; quarrel
14	venta	sale; selling	vender	to sell
15	compra	purchase; buying	comprar	to buy
16	cita	appointment; quotation	citar	to cite; quote; arrange an appointment
17	defensa	defense; defence	defender	to defend
18	práctica	practice	practicar	to practice
19	firma	signature; signing	firmar	to sign
20	entrega	delivery; handover; submission	entregar	to deliver; hand over; submit
21	demanda	demand; legal claim; lawsuit	demandar	to demand; sue
22	amenaza	threat	amenazar	to threaten
23	reserva	reservation; reserve	reservar	to reserve; book
24	consulta	consultation; query; appointment	consultar	to consult; inquire
25	baja	decrease; drop; cancellation; sick leave	bajar	to lower; go down; cancel
26	toma	taking; seizure; recording take	tomar	to take
27	carga	load; charge; burden	cargar	to load; charge
28	mezcla	mixture; mix; mixing	mezclar	to mix
29	guía	guide; guidance; guidebook	guiar	to guide
30	habla	speech; way of speaking	hablar	to speak
31	junta	meeting; board; committee	juntar	to join; gather
32	copia	copy; copying	copiar	to copy
33	charla	chat; talk; lecture	charlar	to chat; talk
34	disculpa	apology; excuse	disculpar / disculparse	to excuse; forgive / apologize
35	excusa	excuse	excusar	to excuse
36	queja	complaint	quejarse	to complain
37	denuncia	report; complaint; accusation	denunciar	to report; accuse; denounce
38	protesta	protest	protestar	to protest
39	reforma	reform; renovation	reformar	to reform; renovate
40	mejora	improvement	mejorar	to improve
41	deuda	debt	deber	to owe
42	tasa	rate; fee; tax	tasar	to assess; appraise
43	ronda	round; patrol	rondar	to patrol; go around
44	fuga	escape; leak; fugue	fugarse	to escape; flee
45	captura	capture; screenshot	capturar	to capture
46	condena	sentence; condemnation	condenar	to condemn; sentence
47	apuesta	bet; wager	apostar	to bet; wager
48	sospecha	suspicion	sospechar	to suspect
49	mancha	stain; mark; blot	manchar	to stain; soil
50	cura	cure; treatment	curar	to cure; heal
51	renuncia	resignation; renunciation	renunciar	to resign; renounce
52	suma	sum; addition	sumar	to add
53	resta	subtraction; difference	restar	to subtract
54	descarga	download; unloading; discharge	descargar	to download; unload; discharge
55	escucha	listening	escuchar	to listen
56	disputa	dispute; argument	disputar	to dispute; contest
57	censura	censorship; censoring	censurar	to censor; criticize
58	fractura	fracture; break	fracturar	to fracture; break
59	clausura	closure; closing ceremony	clausurar	to close; shut down
60	consigna	instruction; slogan	consignar	to record; state; consign
61	reseña	review; summary	reseñar	to review; summarize
62	subasta	auction	subastar	to auction
63	danza	dance	danzar	to dance
64	ofensa	offense; insult	ofender	to offend; insult
65	busca	search; pursuit	buscar	to search for; seek
66	sobra	leftover; surplus	sobrar	to be left over; be unnecessary
67	alza	rise; increase	alzar	to raise; lift
68	rebaja	discount; reduction	rebajar	to reduce; discount
69	prórroga	extension; postponement	prorrogar	to extend; postpone
70	estampa	print; image; appearance	estampar	to print; stamp
71	contienda	contest; dispute; conflict	contender	to contend; fight
72	gira	tour	girar	to turn; tour
73	deriva	drift; deviation	derivar	to drift; derive
74	recompensa	reward	recompensar	to reward
75	estafa	fraud; scam	estafar	to defraud; scam
76	quiebra	bankruptcy; collapse	quebrar	to break; go bankrupt
77	burla	mockery; teasing; joke	burlarse	to mock; make fun of
78	paga	pay; wages	pagar	to pay
79	caza	hunting; hunt	cazar	to hunt
80	pesca	fishing; catch	pescar	to fish
81	cosecha	harvest; crop	cosechar	to harvest
82	quema	burning	quemar	to burn
83	siembra	sowing; planting	sembrar	to sow; plant
84	cría	breeding; raising; offspring	criar	to raise; breed
85	poda	pruning	podar	to prune
86	tala	tree felling; logging	talar	to fell; cut down
87	guarda	custody; protection; safekeeping	guardar	to keep; guard; save
88	encomienda	assignment; entrusted task; parcel	encomendar	to entrust; assign
89	conserva	preserve; canned food	conservar	to preserve; conserve
90	réplica	reply; rebuttal; replica	replicar	to reply; rebut; replicate
91	súplica	plea; supplication	suplicar	to beg; plead
92	pugna	conflict; struggle; rivalry	pugnar	to struggle; contend
93	veda	ban; prohibition; closed season	vedar	to prohibit; ban
94	doma	taming; animal training	domar	to tame; train
95	muda	change; change of clothes; molting	mudar	to change; move; molt
96	cata	tasting; testing	catar	to taste; sample
97	recarga	recharge; reload; top-up	recargar	to recharge; reload; top up
98	sobrecarga	overload; surcharge	sobrecargar	to overload; overburden
99	reventa	resale; ticket scalping	revender	to resell
100	recompra	repurchase; buyback	recomprar	to repurchase; buy back
101	suba	rise; increase (especially Rioplatense Spanish)	subir	to rise; go up; increase
102	contrata	hiring agreement; subcontract	contratar	to hire; contract
103	merma	reduction; loss; shrinkage	mermar	to decrease; diminish
104	traba	obstacle; hindrance	trabar	to hinder; block; jam
105	riña	quarrel; fight	reñir	to quarrel; fight; scold
106	purga	purge; cleansing	purgar	to purge; cleanse
107	honra	honor	honrar	to honor
108	deshonra	dishonor; disgrace	deshonrar	to dishonor; disgrace
109	colecta	collection; fundraiser	colectar	to collect; gather
110	precompra	pre-order; advance purchase	precomprar	to pre-order; buy in advance
111	subcontrata	subcontract	subcontratar	to subcontract
112	contrademanda	counterclaim	contrademandar	to file a counterclaim
113	contrarreforma	counter-reform	contrarreformar	to counter-reform
114	reconquista	reconquest	reconquistar	to reconquer
115	jura	oath-taking; swearing-in	jurar	to swear; take an oath
116	dispensa	exemption; dispensation	dispensar	to exempt; dispense
117	estima	esteem; regard; estimation	estimar	to esteem; value; estimate
118	esquila	shearing	esquilar	to shear
119	siega	reaping; harvesting	segar	to reap; harvest
120	leva	military draft; conscription	levar	to levy; raise; weigh anchor
121	forja	forging; forge	forjar	to forge
122	puja	bid; bidding; struggle	pujar	to bid; strive
123	tacha	flaw; mark; objection	tachar	to cross out; label; object to
124	conjura	conspiracy; plot	conjurarse	to conspire
125	mira	sight; aim	mirar	to look at; aim
126	pinta	appearance; look	pintar	to paint; look; seem
127	traza	trace; outline; appearance	trazar	to trace; draw; outline
128	limpia	cleaning; cleansing	limpiar	to clean
129	bulla	noise; commotion	bullir	to boil; bustle
130	brega	struggle; hard work	bregar	to struggle; work hard
131	mengua	decrease; decline	menguar	to decrease; decline
132	friega	scrubbing; hard work; hassle	fregar	to scrub; wash
133	derrama	levy; special contribution; spill	derramar	to spill; distribute
134	compulsa	official comparison or certification of documents	compulsar	to compare and certify documents
135	repulsa	rejection; repudiation	repulsar	to reject; repel
136	prédica	preaching; sermon	predicar	to preach

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