Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| presa | /ˈpɾesa/ | feminine |
| represa | /reˈpɾesa/ | feminine |
| azud | /aˈθud/ /aˈsud/ |
feminine, masculine |
| bocal | /boˈkal/ | masculine |
The term refers to a structure placed across a flowing body of water.
Which one should you use?
presa is the most common and general term for a dam used for various purposes, such as water storage or hydroelectricity. represa often refers specifically to the dam structure and the resulting reservoir or body of water it creates. For technical purposes, azud refers to a smaller, often low-profile dam or weir used to divert water for irrigation or to power a mill.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Latin America, especially in Argentina and Uruguay, the term dique can be used to refer to a dam.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
presa is a feminine noun and must be used with feminine articles like la or una. Conversely, azud is a masculine noun and must be used with masculine articles like el or un.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpɾesa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be aware that presa also means 'prey' (as in an animal being hunted) depending on the context.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word presa is also used in a culinary context to refer to a specific cut of pork from the shoulder.
- The word azud is a linguistic remnant of the Islamic period in Iberia, having been borrowed from the Arabic word sudd.
Examples in context
- Vivo cerca de la presa.I live near the dam.This sentence is useful for describing your proximity to the presa.Tatoeba #10079007 by manufrutos, translation #10041774 by AlanF_US
- Es la primera vez que pesco en la represa.This is the first time I've ever fished at the dam.This sentence is useful for mentioning fishing at the represa.Tatoeba #1683552 by marcelostockle, translation #1682348 by Amastan
- Había un molino de agua debajo de la presa.There was a watermill below the dam.This sentence is useful for describing a watermill's location relative to the presa.Tatoeba #2884270 by cueyayotl, translation #1739241 by belgavox
- La represa hidroeléctrica es una fuente importante de energía renovable.The hydroelectric dam is an important source of renewable energy.
- El gobierno planea construir una nueva represa para controlar las inundaciones.The government plans to build a new dam to control flooding.
- No puedo creer lo imponente que se ve la presa en persona.I can't believe how impressive the dam looks in person.
- La presa del río está controlando el flujo de agua.The dam on the river is controlling the water flow.
- El dique se construyó para proteger la ciudad de las inundaciones.The dam was built to protect the city from flooding.
- Necesitamos reparar el dique para garantizar el abastecimiento de agua.We need to repair the dam to ensure water supply.
- El embalse de esta zona es uno de los más grandes del país.The dam/reservoir in this area is one of the largest in the country.
- La lluvia ha llenado el embalse hasta su capacidad máxima.The rain has filled the dam/reservoir to its maximum capacity.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are hiking near a large river.
- MateoMira, esa presa es enorme.Look, that dam is huge.
- SofíaSí, el agua se ve muy profunda.Yes, the water looks very deep.
- MateoPodemos caminar por la parte de arriba de la presa.We can walk across the top of the dam.
- SofíaMe parece una buena idea, Mateo.I think that's a good idea, Mateo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dam” translations and entries presa, represa, azud, bocal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries azud, presa, represa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
