Learn words for the shore, beach equipment and activities by the sea.
Spanish words for the beach and sea
La playa is the beach and la orilla is the water’s edge. La costa is the broader coast.
Use weather words to describe the conditions at the beach.
Spanish beach clothing and equipment
El protector solar and la crema solar name sunscreen. La sombrilla provides shade; el paraguas is normally a rain umbrella.
For more clothing terms and regional alternatives, see clothes.
Spanish vocabulary for beach activities
Nadar is swimming and bucear is diving. El socorrista or el salvavidas is a lifeguard; local signs may use either.
La corriente is a current and la bandera a flag. Learn their names to understand descriptions and posted information.
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Quick answer: beach is la playa, sand is la arena, sea is el mar, wave is la ola, shore is la orilla, coast is la costa, tide is la marea, and seashell is la concha.
| English | Spanish | Say it | Changes to |
|---|---|---|---|
| beach | la playa | lah PLAH-yah | |
| sand | la arena | lah ah-REH-nah | |
| sea | el mar | el MAHR | Mar is usually masculine; feminine use is common in maritime and poetic language. |
| wave | la ola | lah OH-lah | |
| shore | la orilla | lah oh-REE-yah | |
| coast | la costa | lah KOHS-tah | |
| tide | la marea | lah mah-REH-ah | |
| seashell | la concha | lah KOHN-chah | The shell sense is standard; the word has vulgar senses in some countries. |
| English | Spanish | Say it | Changes to |
|---|---|---|---|
| beach umbrella | la sombrilla | lah sohm-BREE-yah | |
| beach towel | la toalla de playa | lah toh-AH-yah deh PLAH-yah | |
| sunscreen | el protector solar | el proh-tehk-TOR soh-LAHR | |
| swimsuit | el traje de baño | el TRAH-heh deh BAH-nyoh | |
| flip-flops | las chanclas | lahs CHAHN-klahs | |
| sunglasses | las gafas de sol | lahs GAH-fahs deh SOHL | |
| beach chair | la silla de playa | lah SEE-yah deh PLAH-yah | |
| cooler (container) | la nevera portátil | lah neh-BEH-rah por-TAH-teel |
| English | Spanish | Say it | Changes to |
|---|---|---|---|
| to swim | nadar | nah-DAHR | |
| to dive underwater | bucear | boo-seh-AHR | |
| to sunbathe | tomar el sol | toh-MAHR el SOHL | |
| surfboard | la tabla de surf | lah TAH-blah deh SOORF | |
| sandcastle | el castillo de arena | el kahs-TEE-yoh deh ah-REH-nah | |
| lifeguard | el socorrista | el soh-koh-RREES-tah | |
| current (water) | la corriente | lah koh-RRYEHN-teh | |
| flag | la bandera | lah bahn-DEH-rah | |
| pier | el muelle | el MWEH-yeh |
Beach is playa, a feminine noun: la playa. Beaches is las playas.
El mar is usual in general speech. La mar also occurs, especially in maritime and poetic language.
Protector solar and crema solar are widely understood. Bloqueador solar is also common in parts of Latin America.
Playa is the beach. Orilla is the edge of the sea, a river or another body of water.
Chanclas and chancletas are common. Ojotas is used in countries including Argentina; regional preferences vary.
Sun, rain and storms, when to say hace, está or hay, and practice that tracks every word.
Everyday clothes, coats, shoes and accessories, with the words each country uses and practice for every word.
Pets, farm animals, wild animals, sea creatures and insects, with practice that tracks every word.
Learn the vocabulary of laws, courts and crimes, with clear distinctions between similar terms.
Read political vocabulary for institutions, elections and civic participation.
Learn account, transfer and loan vocabulary used at a bank and in banking apps.
Learn the words for profiles, posts and online interactions, with common interface alternatives.
Lists by level and topic, from beginner to advanced.
Updated · Pronunciation guides use Latin American Spanish.