Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| charco | /ˈt͡ʃaɾko/ | masculine |
| poza | /ˈpoθa/ /ˈposa/ |
feminine |
| cocha | /kot͡ʃa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
The primary way to refer to a small pool of water is with the word charco. A related verb, pudelar, is used in a technical context to mean to process iron by means of puddling.
Which one should you use?
While charco is the most common and neutral word for a puddle, poza is used in more formal or literary contexts to refer to a larger or more permanent pool of water, such as a hollow or a pool in a riverbed. Unlike the temporary puddles formed by rain, a poza implies a more stable body of water.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain Andean regions, the word cocha is used to refer to puddles or small bodies of water like ponds. In parts of South America, such as Argentina and Uruguay, the diminutive charquito is frequently used.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of charco is charcos, and the plural form of poza is pozas.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtʃaɾko/
Did you know?
- The term charco is often used as a colloquial nickname for the Atlantic Ocean, specifically when referring to the trip between Spain and the Americas.
- The word charco may not be native to Spanish, as some linguists believe it was borrowed from Basque.
- In the Andean regions, the word cocha is used for small bodies of water, a term that descends from the indigenous Quechua language.
Examples in context
- Un coche pisó un charco y nos salpicó a todos.A car drove over a puddle and splashed us all.This sentence shows how a car can splash people when driving over a charco.Tatoeba #2190301 by wallebot, translation #10253841 by LimeGreenTeknii
- Él saltó sobre el charco.He jumped across the puddle.This sentence describes jumping across a charco.Tatoeba #935038 by burntsoap, translation #300190 by CK
- El hielo se fundió y se transformó en un charco de agua.The ice melted into a puddle of water.This sentence explains how melted ice can turn into a charco of water.Tatoeba #4291165 by mervert1, translation #2247148 by Hybrid
- El parque estaba lleno de charcos debido a la lluvia de ayer.The park was full of puddles due to yesterday's rain.
- Los niños saltaban felices en los charquitos de agua.The children were happily jumping in the little puddles of water.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Daniel are walking through a park after a rainstorm.
- María¡Mira, Daniel! Hay un charco gigante en el camino.Look, Daniel! There is a giant puddle on the path.
- DanielNo te acerques, no quiero mojarme.Don't go near it, I don't want to get wet.
- MaríaYo saltaré sobre el charco para no ensuciarme.I will jump over the puddle so I don't get dirty.
- DanielEres muy valiente, María.You are very brave, María.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “puddle” translations and entries charco, poza, 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 charco, poza, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
