tumba
/ˈtumba/feminine
The Spanish word for "tomb" is tumba.
tumba is a noun used to refer to a small building or vault for the remains of the dead. It is also used in the idiomatic expression mudo como una tumba, which describes someone who is extremely silent or refuses to speak.
Meaning: small building or vault for the remains of the dead (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, such as Mexico, the word sepultura is used to refer to a tomb or burial place.
How does it change in a sentence?
tumba is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtumba/
Did you know?
- The word tumba is a homonym for a form of the verb tumbar, which means 'to knock down' or 'to tip over'. Depending on the context, a sentence containing tumba could be describing a grave or the act of knocking something over.
- While tumba refers to the grave, Spanish has a specific word, panteón, for a family tomb or a larger mausoleum. These structures are often centrally located in Spanish cemeteries and serve as architectural monuments to a family's lineage.
- The word tumba shares an ancient lineage with the Greek word túmbos, which originally referred to a mound or a hill rather than a building.
Examples in context
- Él estaba mudo como una tumba.He was quiet as a tomb.This example shows how to use tumba in the idiom meaning to be extremely quiet.Tatoeba #2659737 by marcelostockle, translation #10610341 by sangelo
- La vida misma es la tumba donde me estoy revolcando.Life itself is the tomb where I'm turning over.This example uses tumba in a metaphorical sense regarding life.Tatoeba #2869473 by cueyayotl, translation #974795 by sacredceltic
- Me pregunto quién estará enterrado en aquella tumba.I wonder who's buried in that tomb.This example demonstrates the use of tumba when referring to a physical burial site.Tatoeba #7038152 by arh, translation #68722 by CK
- El cementerio estaba lleno de antiguas tumbas de mármol.The cemetery was filled with ancient marble tombs.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and María are visiting an old cemetery.
- MateoMira esa tumba antigua, es muy bonita.Look at that old tomb, it is very beautiful.
- MaríaTienes razón, pero no tiene nombre.You are right, but it has no name.
- Mateo¿Crees que la tumba sea de un rey?Do you think the tomb belongs to a king?
- MaríaEs posible, Mateo, todo es un misterio.It's possible, Mateo, everything is a mystery.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tomb” translations and entries tumba, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tumba, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
