Spanish Conversation · Level 15
87 words
Spanish word
zanja
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈθaŋxa/
Meaning
- feminine nounditch
Example
Cuidado con la zanja.
Be careful of the ditch.
More examples
Los niños jugaron cerca del borde de la zanja.
The children played near the edge of the ditch.
Core concept
Excavated earth trench used for water drainage or construction tasks.
Common phrases
al borde de la zanja
at the edge of the ditch
zanja abierta
open ditch
señalizar la zanja
mark the ditch
Similar words
cuneta: Shallow roadside gutter that directs rainwater away.
acequia: Earthen irrigation channel dug to deliver water to agricultural fields.
fosa: Relatively deep pit dug into the ground, usually with steep or vertical sides.
canal: Broad artificial waterway constructed to carry or drain water over long distances.
Definition in Spanish
Surco o fosa excavada en el terreno, usada para facilitar el paso del agua o para trabajos de construcción.
Word origin
From Old Spanish zanja via medieval Romance, the term comes from words for trenches made in the earth for water management and building work.
Usage tips
- The noun is feminine (la zanja), and common collocations include abrir, cavar, llenar and tapar.
Other meanings
- drainage ditchnoun
- trenchnoun
Opposites
- terraplénembankmentnoun