cupo

Cupo is a Spanish noun meaning capacity, quota, or slot. It refers to the maximum number of people or items allowed in a space or program, or the portion allocated to a person or group. The term is used across many domains, including education, public administration, labor markets, and events.

In education, cupo denotes available places in a course or program, for example, hay cupo disponible or el cupo se llenó. In public administration, immigration, or employment contexts, cupo can indicate a quota or cap on admissions, hires, or allocations. In events or venues, cupo limitado signals restricted seating, while cupo disponible indicates remaining slots. The plural cupos is used when counting multiple quotas or slots.

Common collocations include cupo máximo (maximum capacity), cupo disponible (available slot), cupo reducido (reduced capacity), and asignación de cupos (allocation of slots). The term is widespread in Spanish-speaking countries, with regional variations in phrasing and emphasis.

Etymology: cupo is a native Spanish term rooted in the concept of a space or portion, used historically to describe capacity and allocations. Today it remains a generic label for limits and allotted portions in administrative, educational, and logistical contexts.