Spanish word

alud

Pronunciation

IPA/aˈluð/

Meaning

  • masculine nounavalanche

Example

En las montañas ocurrió un alud esta madrugada.

There was an avalanche in the mountains early this morning.

Illustration for alud (avalanche)

More examples

La noticia provocó un alud de preguntas en la reunión.

The news caused an avalanche of questions at the meeting.

Core concept

A fast-moving sheet of snow carrying ice and rocks downhill.

Common phrases

  • un alud de mensajes

    an avalanche of messages

  • un alud de críticas

    an avalanche of criticism

Similar words

avalancha: Large, fast-moving mass of snow and ice that flows down a slope as a single wave.
deslizamiento: Downhill sliding of soil or rock along a slope, moving as a coherent mass.
desprendimiento: Detachment of rock, snow, or ice from a slope that falls away in separate fragments.

Definition in Spanish

Masa de nieve que se desprende de la ladera de una montaña y desciende con rapidez, arrastrando nieve, hielo y a veces rocas, árboles u objetos.

Word origin

From French avalanche, ultimately from Provençal avalanca, and adopted into Spanish with phonetic shortening to alud.

Usage tips

  • The word has no written accent (alud), and conversational speakers tend to prefer avalancha outside formal or scientific contexts.

Opposites

Word lists with this word