Spanish Conversation · Level 140
44 words
Spanish word
oleada
Pronunciation
IPA/oleˈaða/
Meaning
- feminine nounwave
Example
Hubo una oleada de robos en el barrio.
There was a wave of robberies in the neighborhood.
More examples
En la costa se produjo una oleada de calor.
There was a heat wave on the coast.
Core concept
A mass surge sweeping through an area.
Common phrases
oleada de calor
heat wave
oleada de contagios
surge in infections
oleada de protestas
wave of protests
Similar words
ola: Events unfolding in consecutive waves, each crest following the last.
aumento: An upward change in number or intensity, showing growth or escalation.
aluvión: A mass influx of people, objects, or information arriving simultaneously.
auge: The moment or phase when an activity or trend attains maximum momentum.
Definition in Spanish
Aumento súbito y grande en la cantidad o frecuencia de algo, percibido como una llegada masiva.
Word origin
It comes from Spanish ola 'wave' plus the result-forming suffix -ada, shifting from a literal sea wave to a figurative mass surge.
Usage tips
- Frequently used in news and conversation to describe sudden increases, and it typically takes de plus a noun to name the thing that surged (una oleada de casos, de inmigración, etc.).