Spanish Conversation · Level 62
76 words
Spanish word
ola
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈola/
Meaning
- feminine nounwave
Example
¡Mira esa ola!
Look at that wave!
More examples
En el estadio todos comenzaron a hacer la ola.
In the stadium everyone began to do the wave.
Core concept
A rolling crest traveling across the sea surface.
Common phrases
hacer la ola
do the wave
ola de entusiasmo
wave of enthusiasm
ola de frío
cold wave
Similar words
onda: Wave-like movement of energy or vibration spreading through a material or space.
oleada: Rapid succession of occurrences or arrivals creating a noticeable surge.
oleaje: Ongoing sea swell made of long, gentle rises and falls without breaking.
marea: Periodic movement of ocean waters that makes sea level rise and fall.
Definition in Spanish
Movimiento ondulatorio de la superficie del agua que forma crestas y se desplaza, especialmente en el mar.
Word origin
From Latin unda 'wave', Spanish ola enters through the Romance languages and becomes the common term for sea surface waves while coexisting historically with the related form onda.
Usage tips
- Ola is a speech homophone of hola, so confusion can occur when listening, and ola commonly appears in set phrases such as ola de calor and hacer una ola.