Spanish word

dolmen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈdolmen/

Meaning

  • masculine noundolmen

Example

El dolmen está cerca del pueblo.

The dolmen is near the village.

Illustration for dolmen (dolmen)

More examples

Podemos ir a ver un dolmen este fin de semana.

We can go to see a dolmen this weekend.

Core concept

Horizontal capstone supported by upright standing stones.

Similar words

megalito: Megalithic stone structure created in prehistory using very large stones.
tumba: Grave site where a deceased person is buried.
sepulcro: Built receptacle or room intended to house human remains.
monumento: Monumental work created to memorialize a person, group, or event.

Definition in Spanish

Monumento megalítico consistente en una losa horizontal apoyada sobre piedras verticales, propio del Neolítico y empleado como sepultura o lugar ritual.

Word origin

From Breton taol 'table' + maen 'stone', passed into French and then Spanish to name a tablelike stone monument.

Usage tips

  • In Spanish usage dolmen is often left unchanged in guides and commonly appears with a place name as el dolmen de [place], and the Spanish plural is dolmenes not dolmens.

Other meanings

  • portal tombnoun

Word lists with this word