Spanish word

cordillera

Pronunciation

IPA/koɾðiˈʝeɾa/

Meaning

  • feminine nounmountain range

Example

Vivimos cerca de la cordillera.

We live near the mountain range.

Illustration for cordillera (mountain range)

More examples

Mañana cruzaremos la cordillera.

Tomorrow we'll cross the mountain range.

Core concept

A long connected chain of mountain peaks and ridges.

Common phrases

  • la cordillera de los Andes

    the Andes mountain range

  • cruzar la cordillera

    cross the mountain range

  • la cordillera costera

    coastal mountain range

Similar words

sierra: Relatively small chain of peaks and ridges of modest length and local scale.
montaña: Single mountain or distinct peak that rises prominently above nearby terrain.
sistema montañoso: Large mountain system composed of several ranges, plateaus, or related uplands.

Definition in Spanish

Sistema de montañas formado por picos y sierras que se conectan entre sí en una región amplia.

Word origin

From Spanish cordilla 'small rope' (diminutive of cuerda 'rope') and ultimately from Latin chorda, originally comparing a linked series of peaks to a cord.

Usage tips

  • Used for large, continuous mountain systems (for example Cordillera de los Andes), while sierra usually denotes a smaller chain.

Opposites

  • llanuraplainnoun
  • planicieflatlandnoun

Related words

  • cordilleranocordilleranadjective

Word lists with this word