Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| estanque | /esˈtanke/ | masculine |
| charca | /ˈt͡ʃaɾka/ | feminine |
| laguna | /laˈɡuna/ | feminine |
| bodón | /bodon/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
While estanque often describes a permanent or man-made basin, laguna refers to larger natural shallow lakes or lagoons and charca describes smaller, often temporary pools.
Which one should you use?
Estanque is a neutral term for a pond or a basin, often implying it is man-made or landscaped. Laguna is a neutral term used for a larger natural shallow lake or a lagoon. Charca is an informal term for a small, natural pool or a puddle. Bodón is also a masculine form for a pond.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the word charco is commonly used to refer to small ponds or even puddles.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To make these words plural, add -s to estanque to get estanques, add -s to charca to get charcas and add -s to laguna to get lagunas.
How do you pronounce it?
/esˈtanke/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to confuse the feminine charca (a small pond) with the masculine charco, which specifically refers to a puddle on the ground.
Did you know?
- In some regions, the word charca may have been borrowed from Basque rather than evolving from Latin.
- The term estanque is frequently used for architectural water features, such as those found in the gardens of the Alhambra.
Examples in context
- El estanque se secó.The pond has dried up.This sentence is useful for describing a pond that has dried up using estanque.Tatoeba #980309 by Shishir, translation #277294 by CK
- El estanque se congeló.The pond froze over.This sentence is useful for describing a pond that has frozen over using estanque.Tatoeba #1581887 by marcelostockle, translation #277309 by CK
- Aquí hay una pequeña laguna.There is a small pond here.This sentence is useful for noting the presence of a small pond using laguna.Tatoeba #1265418 by marcelostockle, translation #267563 by CK
- La laguna se encuentra en el corazón del parque.The pond is located in the heart of the park.
- La charca es un ecosistema crucial para diversas especies.The pond is a crucial ecosystem for various species.
- ¡Vamos a nadar en la poza hoy!Let's go swimming in the pond today!
- 45 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are walking in a park.
- Alejandro¿Ves ese estanque allá?Do you see that pond over there?
- ElenaSí, es un estanque precioso.Yes, it is a beautiful pond.
- AlejandroElena, ¡mira los peces!Elena, look at the fish!
- ElenaSon muy rápidos en el estanque.They are very fast in the pond.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pond” translations and entries estanque, charca, laguna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries charca, estanque, laguna, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
