alturas
“alturas” means “heights” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
heights, high places
Also: skies
📝 In Action
Desde las alturas, la ciudad parecía un mapa pequeño.
A2From the heights, the city looked like a small map.
Prefiero vivir en las alturas de la montaña, donde el aire es puro.
B1I prefer to live in the high places of the mountain, where the air is pure.
El águila volaba a grandes alturas, casi invisible.
A2The eagle was flying at great heights, almost invisible.
stage, level
Also: point
📝 In Action
A estas alturas del partido, ya no podemos perder.
B1At this stage of the game, we can no longer lose. (Meaning: 'At this point in time...')
El nuevo gerente no está a la altura de su predecesor.
B2The new manager is not up to the standard of his predecessor. (Meaning: 'He is not at the level of...')
Pensé que ya habrías terminado a estas alturas del proyecto.
B1I thought you would have finished by this point in the project.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: alturas
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'alturas' to mean 'at this stage or point in time'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin root *altus*, meaning 'high' or 'deep' (depending on context). In Spanish, it evolved strictly to refer to vertical dimension and elevation.
First recorded: Before the 13th century (as 'altura')
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'alturas' usually plural when 'height' in English is singular?
When referring to physical high places (like mountains or the sky), Spanish prefers the plural 'las alturas.' The singular 'la altura' is usually reserved for a specific measurement (e.g., 'the height of the building').
How do I know if 'alturas' refers to time or location?
If you see the phrase 'A estas alturas' (with the preposition 'A'), it almost always refers to time or a stage of development ('By now,' or 'At this point'). If you see 'EN las alturas' (with the preposition 'EN'), it refers to a physical location ('In the high places').