altas
“altas” means “high” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
high, tall
Also: loud
📝 In Action
Las casas en esa calle son muy altas.
A1The houses on that street are very tall.
Necesitamos estanterías más altas para guardar los libros.
A2We need higher shelves to store the books.
Las temperaturas máximas serán altas mañana.
B1The maximum temperatures will be high tomorrow.
discharges, registrations
Also: releases
📝 In Action
El hospital registró diez altas médicas esta mañana.
B1The hospital recorded ten medical discharges this morning.
Tuvimos muchas altas nuevas en el gimnasio el mes pasado.
B2We had many new sign-ups at the gym last month.
El departamento gestiona las altas y las bajas del personal.
C1The department manages the registrations and cancellations of personnel.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: altas
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'altas' as a Noun?
📚 More Resources
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'alto' comes from the Latin word *altus*, which meant both 'high' and 'deep.' Over time, the Spanish derivative 'alta' took on specialized meanings related to being 'up' in a system (registration) or 'up' and out of confinement (discharge).
First recorded: 10th century (as 'alto')
Cognates (Related words)
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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).