Spanish Conversation · Level 32
90 words
Spanish word
cuesta
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈkwesta/
Meaning
- feminine nounslope
Example
La cuesta es muy empinada.
The slope is very steep.
More examples
Sube la cuesta con cuidado.
Climb the slope carefully.
Core concept
Short steep hill on a road or path.
Common phrases
subir la cuesta
climb the slope
bajar la cuesta
descend the slope
cuesta arriba
uphill
Similar words
pendiente: Sloping part of ground or road, a slanted surface section.
inclinación: Measure of a surface's tilt, the angle or steepness of an incline.
subida: Section of road or path that goes upward toward a higher point.
Definition in Spanish
Terreno inclinado por donde se sube o se baja, como una calle o un sendero.
Word origin
Derived from Latin costa 'rib, side', with the sense 'side' shifting to 'sloping side' and then to the modern meaning of an inclined piece of ground.
Usage tips
- In everyday speech cuesta often names a specific steep section rather than an entire hill, so subir la cuesta usually means climbing a steep stretch.