Spanish Conversation · Level 81
60 words
Spanish word
ciénaga
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈθjenaɣa/
Meaning
- feminine nounswamp
Example
La ciénaga está cerca del pueblo.
The swamp is near the village.
More examples
Colocaron una señal que advertía del peligro de la ciénaga en la carretera.
They placed a sign on the road warning of the danger of the swamp.
Core concept
Shallow muddy wetland with standing water and reeds.
Common phrases
cerca de la ciénaga
near the swamp
al lado de la ciénaga
next to the swamp
Similar words
pantano: Large waterlogged basin that holds stagnant water and can be an artificial reservoir.
humedal: Land kept wet or flooded for long periods, supporting water-loving plants.
marisma: Coastal salt marsh flooded and drained by the tides, with salt-tolerant grasses.
laguna: Small shallow natural pond with mostly still water.
Definition in Spanish
Terreno bajo y húmedo cubierto en parte por agua o lodo, con vegetación adaptada a suelos encharcados.
Word origin
From Latin caenum 'mud', via medieval Romance forms, the word entered Spanish to name wetlands dominated by mud and water.
Usage tips
- In everyday use, ciénaga usually denotes a natural, mucky inland wetland while pantano often refers to an artificial reservoir and marisma to a coastal salt marsh.
Other meanings
- marshnoun
Opposites
- suelo firmefirm groundnoun
- terreno secodry landnoun