concha
/ˈkont͡ʃa/feminine
The English word 'seashell' is translated into Spanish as concha or caracola.
Meaning: shell (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| concha | /ˈkont͡ʃa/ | feminine |
| caracola | /kaɾaˈkola/ |
You can use concha as a general term for any seashell, or caracola when referring specifically to spiral-shaped shells, such as those from sea snails.
Which one should you use?
concha is the general word for a seashell, whereas caracola is used specifically for spiral-shaped shells, often those belonging to gastropods.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In some Latin American countries, particularly in the Southern Cone (Argentina, Uruguay), the word concha is a highly vulgar slang term for female genitalia and should be used with caution.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the term caracolillo is used when discussing smaller seashells.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
concha is a feminine noun, and its plural form is conchas.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkontʃa/
Did you know?
- In Mexico, the word concha is most commonly used to describe a sweet bread roll with a sugary crust that looks like a seashell.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a caracola is not just a shell but is traditionally used as a musical instrument or a signaling horn.
- The word concha can be traced back to the Ancient Greek word kónkhē, which specifically referred to a 'mussel'.
Examples in context
- ¡Oh! Es una concha.Oh! It's a seashell.This sentence shows how to identify a single concha.Tatoeba #5678937 by baudelaire, translation #12912102 by araneo
- Lo que tengo en mi mano es una concha endurecida.What I have in my hand is a fossil seashell.This sentence uses concha to describe a fossilized shell.Tatoeba #1674190 by termito2nd, translation #246809 by CM
- Me encontré una hermosa concha marina en la playa.I found a beautiful seashell on the beach.
- ¡Mira qué bonita caracola encontré durante mi viaje!Look at this beautiful seashell I found during my trip!
- Voy a decorar mi habitación con algunas caracolas.I'm going to decorate my room with some seashells.
- Recogimos muchas conchillas mientras caminábamos por la orilla.We collected many seashells as we walked along the shore.
- Encontré una concha muy bonita en la arena.I found a very beautiful seashell in the sand.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are walking along a beach.
- LucíaMira, Mateo, ¡qué concha más grande!Look, Mateo, what a huge seashell!
- MateoEs verdad, Lucía, es impresionante.It's true, Lucía, it is impressive.
- Lucía¿Quieres que la guarde en mi bolso?Do you want me to keep it in my bag?
- MateoSí, sería un gran recuerdo.Yes, it would be a great souvenir.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “seashell” translations and entries concha, caracola, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caracola, concha, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
