altas

/AHL-tas/

high

A colorful storybook illustration showing two extremely tall, snow-capped mountains piercing the sky, emphasizing height.

This illustrates things that are physically high or tall.

altas(Adjective)

fA1

high

referring to level, position, or volume

tall

referring to height of people or objects

Also:

loud

referring to voices or music (e.g., 'voces altas')

📝 In Action

Las casas en esa calle son muy altas.

The houses on that street are very tall.

Necesitamos estanterías más altas para guardar los libros.

We need higher shelves to store the books.

Las temperaturas máximas serán altas mañana.

The maximum temperatures will be high tomorrow.

Word Connections

Synonyms

elevadas (raised, high)
grandes (large, great)

Antonyms

bajas (low, short)
pequeñas (small)

Common Collocations

voces altas – loud voices
expectativas altas – high expectations

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Agreement

As an adjective, 'altas' must always match the noun it describes. Use 'altas' only when the noun is feminine and plural, like 'montañas' (mountains) or 'chicas' (girls).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the wrong ending

Mistake: "Mis casas son alto."

Correction: Mis casas son altas. (The adjective must agree with 'casas,' which is feminine plural.)

⭐ Usage Tips

The Base Form

Remember the base form is 'alto' (masculine singular). You add an '-a' for feminine singular ('alta') and an '-s' for plural ('altos' or 'altas').

A colorful storybook illustration of a cheerful patient, now wearing normal clothes, walking out of a stylized hospital entrance, waving goodbye to a nurse standing in the doorway, symbolizing a medical discharge.

The word can refer to official discharges, such as being released from a hospital.

altas(Noun)

fB1

discharges

medical or military release

registrations

new sign-ups or subscriptions

Also:

releases

official release from a duty or place

📝 In Action

El hospital registró diez altas médicas esta mañana.

The hospital recorded ten medical discharges this morning.

Tuvimos muchas altas nuevas en el gimnasio el mes pasado.

We had many new sign-ups at the gym last month.

El departamento gestiona las altas y las bajas del personal.

The department manages the registrations and cancellations of personnel.

Word Connections

Synonyms

inscripciones (enrollments)
admisiones (admissions)

Antonyms

bajas (cancellations, casualties, dismissals)

Common Collocations

dar de alta – to register, to discharge (often used with a person/patient)
nuevas altas – new sign-ups

💡 Grammar Points

The Noun Form

When 'altas' is used as a noun (usually preceded by 'las' or a number), it refers to the process of being entered into a system or released from a place (like a hospital), meaning you are 'up' or 'active' in the system.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Noun and Adjective

Mistake: "Las altas temperaturas son una alta."

Correction: Las altas temperaturas son un problema. (The noun 'alta' is used for official records, not generally for 'a high thing.')

⭐ Usage Tips

Crucial Phrase: Dar de alta

The most common way to hear the singular 'alta' is in the phrase 'dar de alta' (to register someone or discharge a patient). The plural 'altas' refers to multiple instances of this action.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: altas

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'altas' as a Noun?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

alto(high, tall) - adjective

altura(height) - noun

altitud(altitude) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'altas' and 'altos'?

'Altas' is used for feminine plural nouns (e.g., 'las casas altas'). 'Altos' is used for masculine plural nouns (e.g., 'los edificios altos'). Both mean 'high' or 'tall' when used as adjectives.

When does 'altas' mean something official, like a discharge?

When it's used as a noun, usually with the article 'las' or a number (e.g., 'las altas'). It almost always appears in contexts related to administration, hospitals, or business, often paired with its opposite, 'bajas' (cancellations/dismissals).