Spanish Conversation · Level 3
87 words
Spanish word
costa
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈkosta/
Meaning
- feminine nouncoast
Example
La costa está llena de turistas en verano.
The coast is full of tourists in summer.
More examples
Paseamos por la costa al atardecer.
We walked along the coast at dusk.
Core concept
A stretch of land along the sea.
Common phrases
ir a la costa
go to the coast
pasear por la costa
walk along the coast
playas de la costa
beaches along the coast
Similar words
playa: Flat sandy or pebbly area at the sea's edge, used for swimming and sunbathing.
orilla: Immediate edge where water meets land, the very shore or bank.
litoral: Band of land along the coast forming the coastal zone, often used in geographic contexts.
bahía: Curved inlet of sea surrounded by land on three sides, forming a sheltered bay.
Definition in Spanish
Extensión de terreno junto al mar que constituye la línea costera o la franja litoral de una zona.
Word origin
From Latin costa 'rib, side', originally used for the side of a territory that meets the sea and so meaning 'coast'.
Usage tips
- La costa typically denotes the coastal region or entire shoreline rather than a specific beach, so use playa for a single beach and orilla for the water's edge.