Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cima | /ˈθima/ /ˈsima/ |
feminine |
| parte superior | /paɾte supeɾjoɾ/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| parte de más arriba | /paɾte de mas ariba/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| parte de arriba | /paɾte de ariba/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| parte de encima | /paɾte de enθima/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /paɾte de ensima/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
cima is used for the peak of a mountain or the height of an achievement. For general objects like a page, document or a box, you would use phrases such as parte de arriba to mean the upper part. Metaphorically, the phrase en la cima is used to describe someone being at the height of their power or success.
Which one should you use?
Use cima when you specifically mean a summit or a peak, such as a mountain top or the peak of a career. For a common or neutral description of the top part of an object (like the top of a box), use parte de arriba. Other variations include parte superior, parte de más arriba and parte de encima, which all function as ways to describe the uppermost portion of something.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the phrase parte de arriba to mean "the top part", the noun parte is feminine and requires the feminine article la. All the provided forms of "top" are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈθima/
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Subimos a la cima.We climbed to the top.This sentence is useful for practicing the word cima.Tatoeba #1940255 by teskmon, translation #1543550 by JimBreen
- Estoy en la cima del mundo.I'm on top of the world.This sentence shows the figurative use of cima.Tatoeba #1264475 by marcelostockle, translation #240825 by CM
- La cima de la montaña es plana.The top of that mountain is flat.This sentence describes a physical summit using cima.Tatoeba #1976884 by marcelostockle, translation #68366 by CM
- La información más relevante se encuentra en la parte superior del informe.The most relevant information is located at the top of the report.
- La respuesta correcta está arriba, en la parte superior de la página.The correct answer is at the top, on the upper part of the page.
- El botón superior del elevador te llevará al último piso.The top button of the elevator will take you to the last floor.
- 40 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are hiking up a steep hill.
- SofíaYa casi llegamos a la cima.We are almost at the top.
- AlejandroTengo mucha sed, necesito descansar.I am very thirsty, I need to rest.
- SofíaMira, la cima está justo ahí.Look, the top is right there.
- Alejandro¡Qué vista tan increíble tenemos!What an incredible view we have!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “top” translations and entries cima, 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 arriba, cima, de, más, parte, superior, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
