cita

Cita is a Spanish term with multiple related meanings. In language and writing, una cita is a quotation or a bibliographic citation: a reference to another text that includes identifying data such as author, title, year and location. It can also refer to a quotation that is reproduced verbatim, known as a cita textual. In everyday use, cita also means an appointment or date for a planned meeting, for example a medical appointment (cita médica) or a scheduled meeting with someone. The plural form is citas, and the related verb is citar, to quote or to summon.

The word derives from Latin citāre, meaning to summon or call forth; the noun sense of an arranged meeting comes from the idea of summoning someone to attend. In many Spanish-speaking countries, phrases such as cita previa (prior appointment) and confirmar la cita are common in administrative and service contexts.

In academic and professional settings, a cita bibliográfica provides the necessary information to locate a source, while una cita textual reproduces an exact passage from a text. Style guides such as APA, MLA, and Chicago outline different formats for citing sources and placing quotes.

As a proper noun, Cita may occur as a given name or surname in some cultures, though it is relatively uncommon. See also citar, cita, citas.