Spanish Conversation · Level 33
75 words
Spanish word
playa
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈplaʝa/
Meaning
- feminine nounbeach
Example
Vamos a la playa mañana.
Let's go to the beach tomorrow.
More examples
Me encanta leer en la playa cuando hace buen tiempo.
I love to read on the beach when the weather is nice.
Core concept
Sandy coastal strip where people swim and sunbathe.
Common phrases
tomar el sol en la playa
sunbathe at the beach
hacer surf en la playa
surf on the beach
visitar la playa
visit the beach
Similar words
costa: Continuous seaside belt of land stretching along the shoreline.
orilla: Immediate waterfront strip where water touches the land.
balneario: Town or complex on the coast offering bathing, lodging, and leisure.
bahía: An inlet of sea enclosed on several sides by land, usually calm.
Definition in Spanish
Porción de costa formada por arena donde las personas van a bañarse, jugar o tomar el sol.
Word origin
The Spanish word playa comes from medieval Iberian plaja, originally meaning a flat shore area, while any earlier origin is debated.
Usage tips
- Spanish speakers use playa for the sandy recreational strip, costa for the full coastline, and orilla for the immediate water's edge.