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noun

rota

ROH-tuh

Rota (noun) means a list or rotating schedule that shares out a task among a group of people. Example: “It's your turn on the cleaning rota this week.”

noun
1
A list or rotating schedule that shares out a task among a group of people.
"It's your turn on the cleaning rota this week."
"The church keeps a rota of volunteers for Sunday readings."

How to use rota

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA repeating schedule that assigns a job in turn to different people — mainly British English (Americans would usually say "schedule" or "roster").

UK vs US

Chiefly British; American English favours "roster" or "schedule" for the same idea.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
cleaning rota duty rota on the rota

Word forms

rotas plural, rotas plural, Rotas plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

It's your turn on the cleaning _____ this week.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin rota, "wheel" — the same root that gives us rotor and rotate.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for rota

See all rhymes for rota →

Frequently asked questions

What does “rota” mean?

The word “rota” means a list or rotating schedule that shares out a task among a group of people. In plain terms, a repeating schedule that assigns a job in turn to different people — mainly British English (Americans would usually say "schedule" or "roster").

How do you pronounce “rota”?

“Rota” is pronounced ROH-tuh (/ˈɹoʊtə/ in IPA).

How do you use “rota” in a sentence?

Here is “rota” used in a sentence: “It's your turn on the cleaning rota this week.”

What part of speech is “rota”?

“Rota” is a noun.

Where does the word “rota” come from?

The word “rota” comes from Latin. Borrowed from Latin rota, "wheel" — the same root that gives us rotor and rotate.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial