Spanish Conversation · Level 48
74 words
Spanish word
dehesa
Pronunciation
IPA/deˈesa/
Meaning
- feminine nounwooded pasture
Example
En la dehesa pastan ovejas y cerdos bajo las encinas.
In the wooded pasture, sheep and pigs graze under the oak trees.
More examples
En la dehesa se producen jamones muy apreciados.
In the oak pasture highly prized hams are produced.
Core concept
Oak-dotted pasture managed for grazing and cork production.
Common phrases
jamón de la dehesa
oak-pasture ham
dehesa tradicional
traditional oak pasture
en la dehesa
in the oak pasture
Similar words
campo: Broad open land used for growing crops or grazing livestock.
monte: Hilly land covered in trees and low scrub, often close to woodland.
prado: Level grassy meadow often mown for hay or used for grazing.
granja: Farmstead with buildings and surrounding land for raising livestock and crops.
Definition in Spanish
Sistema de aprovechamiento rural en que praderas y árboles, sobre todo encinas, conviven para el pastoreo de animales y la obtención de productos como el corcho.
Word origin
From medieval Latin defensa 'defended area', the Spanish term came to denote communal protected land that evolved into the oak-and-pasture management system.
Usage tips
- Often seen in product and place names such as 'jamón de la dehesa', where it signals acorn-fed livestock and a specific traditional landscape rather than any generic woodland.
Other meanings
- oak pasturenoun
- oak savannanoun
Opposites
- ciudadcitynoun