ola
/ˈola/feminine
The Spanish word for wave is ola. Wiktionary also lists onda.
Meaning: moving disturbance, undulation (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ola | /ˈola/ | feminine |
| onda | /ˈonda/ | feminine |
Both ola and onda refer to a moving disturbance or undulation. While ola is used for physical waves in water or atmospheric phenomena like a heat wave, onda is used for scientific waves such as light, sound or radio waves.
Which one should you use?
Use ola when referring to waves in the ocean or a heat wave. Use onda when discussing physics, signals or vibrations like sound or radio waves.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, people might say saludar con la mano or hacer señas to refer to a wave.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both ola and onda are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈola/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to confuse ola (wave) with hola (hello), as they sound very similar.
Did you know?
- The word ola may have roots in the Arabic word hawl, which can mean both a surge of the sea and a feeling of fright.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, onda is used as slang to refer to a person's 'vibe' or the general mood of a situation.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the expression en mi onda is used to describe someone who is in their own world or focused on their own thing.
Examples in context
- Una gran ola volcó su canoa.A big wave turned over his canoe.This sentence shows how a large ola can affect a boat.Tatoeba #1294415 by marcelostockle, translation #275932 by CM
- La nave fué golpeada por una gran ola.The ship was hit by a big wave.This sentence illustrates a ship being hit by an ola.Tatoeba #7056321 by tulakalbeyo, translation #7055724 by CarpeLanam
- Muchas aves mueren a causa de la ola de calor.Many birds are dying due to the heat wave.This sentence demonstrates the use of ola in the context of a heat wave.Tatoeba #13593916 by ecorralest101, translation #6579248 by Eccles17
- Puede saludar con un gesto de la manoYou can greet with a hand gesture
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are standing on the beach.
- ElenaMira esa ola tan grande.Look at that big wave.
- JavierSí, es perfecta para surfear.Yes, it is perfect for surfing.
- ElenaLa ola viene muy rápido.The wave is coming very fast.
- Javier¡Corre, Javier, que nos moja!Run, Javier, or it will soak us!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wave” translations and entries ola, onda, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ola, onda, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
