altitud
/altiˈtud/
The English word altitude is translated into Spanish as altitud.
Altitud is used to describe the distance measured upwards, specifically in technical contexts or when referring to a measurement above sea level.
Meaning: distance measured upwards (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word altitud is a cognate of the English word 'altitude', as both share the same Latin root.
How do you pronounce it?
/altiˈtud/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse altitud with altura. While altitud refers to distances above sea level or specific technical measurements, altura is the more common word used to describe the height of people or objects.
Did you know?
- The Spanish word altitud shares the same Proto-Indo-European root as the English word 'alimony'. Both originate from the root *h₂el- meaning 'to nourish' or 'to grow', which eventually evolved into the concept of something being 'high'.
- In Spanish, the phrase estar en las alturas can mean someone is daydreaming or is out of touch with reality, rather than physically being at a high altitud.
- In certain Spanish-speaking regions, altura is used to refer to a specific point along a route or a road, such as saying 'at the height of the bridge' to mean 'at that point'.
Examples in context
- A esta altitud el tiempo puede cambiar rápida e inesperadamente.At this altitude, the weather can change quickly and unexpectedly.This sentence shows how weather can change at a certain altitud.Tatoeba #10258676 by Seael, translation #10258670 by sundown
- La altitud del Sol es de 20 grados.The solar altitude is 20 degrees.This sentence is used to describe the solar altitud in degrees.Tatoeba #357283 by tatoerique, translation #275103 by shekitten
- Esta montaña tiene una altitud de 3.000 metros.This mountain has an altitude of 3,000 meters.This sentence describes the altitud of a mountain in meters.Tatoeba #859734 by migueltoledo86, translation #47720 by CM
- La altitud de la montaña es de 3,000 metrosThe altitude of the mountain is 3,000 meters
- La elevación del avión es de 35,000 piesThe altitude of the plane is 35,000 feet
- La cota máxima alcanza los 2,000 metrosThe maximum altitude reaches 2,000 meters
- La altura de la montaña es impresionanteThe altitude of the mountain is impressive
- La sierra alcanza altitudes superiores a los 3,000 metrosThe mountain range reaches altitudes above 3,000 meters
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are hiking up a mountain.
- JavierMe siento un poco mareado por la altitud.I feel a bit dizzy because of the altitude.
- LucíaEs normal, Lucía, debemos caminar más despacio.It's normal, Lucía, we should walk slower.
- Javier¿A qué altitud estamos ahora mismo?At what altitude are we right now?
- LucíaCreo que estamos a dos mil metros.I think we are at two thousand meters.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry altitud, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries altitud, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
