cascada
/kasˈkada/feminine
The English word waterfall is translated into Spanish as cascada. Wiktionary also lists catarata and caída de agua.
Meaning: flow of water over the edge of a cliff (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cascada | /kasˈkada/ | feminine |
| catarata | /kataˈɾata/ | feminine |
| caída de agua | /kaˌida de ˈaɡwa/ | feminine |
All the Spanish terms provided are feminine nouns used to describe a flow of water over the edge of a cliff.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase caída de agua is a literal translation of 'fall of water'.
Which one should you use?
While cascada and catarata both mean waterfall, catarata typically refers to a much larger, more powerful or more massive waterfall than cascada.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, such as Chile or Argentina, salto is commonly used to refer to a waterfall.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of cascada is cascadas and the plural form of catarata is cataratas.
How do you pronounce it?
/kasˈkada/
Did you know?
- The word catarata is used in Spanish medical contexts to refer to cataracts of the eye.
- In many parts of South America, you might use the word salto to describe a waterfall, which literally means 'jump'.
- The word cascada shares a common ancestor with the English word 'cascade', both descending from the Latin word 'casus', meaning 'a falling'.
Examples in context
- Vi una hermosa cascada por allá.I saw a beautiful waterfall there.This sentence is useful for describing seeing a waterfall.Tatoeba #2144891 by marcelostockle, translation #1499021 by weihaiping
- Tom vive solo en una pequeña cabaña cerca de una cascada.Tom lives alone in a small cabin near a waterfall.This sentence is useful for describing living near a waterfall.Tatoeba #1411107 by marcelostockle, translation #1093274 by CK
- La cascada es grande.The waterfall is big.This sentence is useful for describing the size of a waterfall.Tatoeba #13813726 by rul, translation #12632915 by rul
- El Salto Ángel en Venezuela es la cascada más alta del mundo.Angel Falls in Venezuela is the tallest waterfall in the world.
- Ayer fuimos a nadar en la cascadita del río.Yesterday, we went swimming in the little waterfall by the river.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Javier are hiking in a forest.
- María¡Mira, Javier! ¡Allí hay una cascada!Look, Javier! There is a waterfall over there!
- JavierEs impresionante, María.It is impressive, María.
- María¿Quieres caminar hacia la cascada?Do you want to walk toward the waterfall?
- JavierSí, vamos.Yes, let's go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “waterfall” translations and entries cascada, catarata, caída de agua, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries agua, cascada, catarata, caída, de, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
