ceiba
/θeiba/from spelling rules
ceiba is the Spanish word for ceiba.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /θeiba/.
Did you know?
- In Maya mythology, the ceiba is the sacred world tree that connects the underworld, the earth and the heavens. Its roots were believed to reach the depths of Xibalba.
- The ceiba produces a fluffy fiber known as 'kapok' in English. Because it is buoyant and water resistant, it was historically used to stuff life jackets before synthetic materials existed.
- The word ceiba comes from the Taíno language of the Caribbean islands. This is a rare example of a word from an indigenous American language becoming the standard term for the tree across all Spanish speaking countries.
Examples in context
- La ceiba es un árbol sagrado en muchas culturas indígenas.The ceiba tree is a sacred tree in many indigenous cultures.
- La ceiba es muy alta.The ceiba tree is very tall.
- Vimos una ceiba en el parque.We saw a ceiba tree in the park.
- Esa ceiba tiene hojas grandes.That ceiba tree has large leaves.
Example conversation
María and Javier are walking through a botanical garden.
- María¿Ves esa ceiba gigante?Do you see that giant ceiba tree?
- JavierSí, la ceiba es impresionante.Yes, the ceiba is impressive.
- MaríaMe gusta mucho su sombra.I really like its shade.
- JavierEs un lugar perfecto para descansar.It is a perfect place to rest.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ceiba, CC BY-SA 4.0.
