Spanish Conversation · Level 47
75 words
Spanish word
cuenca
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈkweŋka/
Meaning
- feminine nounbasin
Example
Esta cuenca es conocida por su clima cálido.
This basin is known for its warm climate.
More examples
La cuenca del río se inunda en la temporada de lluvias.
The river basin floods during the rainy season.
Core concept
Land basin that collects a river's runoff and sediments.
Common phrases
cuenca del río
river basin
Similar words
valle: Narrow depression between raised sides that often contains a flowing stream.
llanura: Wide, level tract of land with very gentle or almost no relief.
cuenca hidrográfica: Catchment area that gathers rainfall and funnels it into a river system.
Definition in Spanish
Depresión natural que concentra escorrentías y sedimentos; por extensión, la región drenada por un río (cuenca hidrográfica) y, en medicina, la cavidad alrededor del ojo.
Word origin
From Latin concha 'shell', the word keeps the idea of a hollow and extends in Spanish to terrain depressions, whole drainage areas, and the cavity around the eye.
Usage tips
- When referring to a watershed, Spanish typically uses modifiers such as 'cuenca hidrográfica' or 'cuenca del río' to specify the entire drainage area rather than a small hollow.
Other meanings
- watershednoun
- eye socketnoun
Opposites
- cimasummitnoun