Spanish word

roca

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈroka/

Meaning

  • feminine nounrock

Example

Hay una roca en el sendero.

There is a rock on the trail.

Illustration for roca (rock)

More examples

Tropecé con una roca y me hice daño.

I tripped over a rock and hurt myself.

Core concept

Large, hard natural mass of stone that is difficult to move.

Common phrases

  • tropezar con una roca

    trip over a rock

  • lanzar una roca

    throw a rock

  • sobre la roca

    on the rock

Similar words

piedra: Common stone often small enough to hold and use by hand.
peñasco: Large, rugged rock formation typically found on cliffs or by the sea.
guijarro: Small, smooth rounded pebble worn and shaped by river or sea action.

Definition in Spanish

Trozo natural y compacto de mineral, más grande que una piedra y difícil de mover sin herramientas.

Word origin

From Vulgar Latin *rocca, related to Old French roche and Italian roccia, originally naming a rocky outcrop that became the general word for a big natural stone.

Usage tips

  • The word is feminine (la roca) and normally refers to bigger, immovable stones rather than small stones or pebbles, and 'estar como una roca' describes being steady or unshakable.

Related words

Word lists with this word