playa
/ˈplaʝa/feminine
The English word beach is playa in Spanish.
playa refers to a sandy shore. In some formal contexts, the word costa can be used to signify a coastal area or a stretch of beach.
Meaning: sandy shore (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun playa is feminine, so it is preceded by the feminine article la to form la playa. To talk about more than one, use the plural form las playas.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈplaʝa/
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'beach' to mean the sand, the Spanish word playa shares an ancestor with the word 'plague', originating from a root meaning 'to strike' or 'to lay-in-wait'.
- In Spanish, the term playa is used for any flat sandy area, even if it is not near the ocean, such as a dry riverbed.
- While playa is the common term, the word playita is often used affectionately to describe a small or cozy beach.
Examples in context
- Voy a la playa.I'm going to the beach.This sentence is useful for saying you are going to the beach using playa.Tatoeba #2110643 by marcelostockle, translation #5990969 by johnisprobablybored
- Estoy en la playa.I'm at the beach.This sentence is useful for saying you are currently at the beach using playa.Tatoeba #2127446 by marcelostockle, translation #2127255 by sysko
- Fuimos a la playa.We went to the beach.This sentence is useful for saying you went to the beach using playa.Tatoeba #3309179 by gianich73, translation #2769836 by CK
- 258 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Daniel are planning their weekend trip.
- María¿Quieres ir a la playa este sábado?Do you want to go to the beach this Saturday?
- DanielSí, me parece un plan excelente.Yes, that sounds like an excellent plan.
- MaríaPrepararé mi maleta para la playa.I will pack my bag for the beach.
- DanielPerfecto, yo llevaré las bebidas.Perfect, I will bring the drinks.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beach” translations and entries playa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries playa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
