Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| grava | /ˈɡɾaba/ | feminine |
| gravilla | /ɡɾaˈbiʝa/ | feminine |
| ripio | /ˈripjo/ | Latin America, masculine |
All these terms refer to small fragments of rock. If you are referring specifically to crushed or processed stones used for construction purposes, the formal term piedra triturada is used. You can also use the verbal phrases rociar con grava or salpicar con grava to mean the act of applying a layer of gravel to a surface, such as a road.
Which one should you use?
gravilla is the diminutive of grava and is used to describe smaller or finer pieces of gravel, often translated as fine gravel or small pebbles.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, grava is the standard term. In Argentina and Uruguay, ripio is a popular term for gravel. In Spain, the terms zahorra and árido are also used in specific contexts, particularly within the construction or civil engineering industries.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
grava and gravilla are feminine nouns, while ripio is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɡɾaba/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word grava was actually borrowed from Catalan rather than evolving directly from Latin in the same way as many other Spanish words.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the word ripio is used to describe gravel, but it can also refer to 'leftovers' or the 'dregs' of something, such as food or a drink.
- The word árido is used in Spanish engineering to describe any granular material, including gravel, sand and crushed stone.
Examples in context
- Es fácil perder el equilibrio en grava suelta.It's easy to lose your footing on loose gravel.This sentence is useful for describing the difficulty of maintaining balance on loose grava.Tatoeba #5449045 by albrusgher, translation #2923870 by patgfisher
- La grava cubre todo el camino.The gravel covers the whole path.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are discussing home renovations.
- JavierNecesitamos poner grava en el jardín.We need to put gravel in the garden.
- LucíaSí, así evitamos que crezcan malas hierbas.Yes, that way we avoid weeds growing.
- Javier¿Prefieres la grava blanca o la gris?Do you prefer white or grey gravel?
- LucíaCreo que la gris queda mejor, Javier.I think the grey looks better, Javier.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gravel” translations and entries grava, gravilla, ripio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries grava, gravilla, ripio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
