aterrizaje
“aterrizaje” means “landing” in Spanish (The act of an aircraft or spacecraft reaching the ground).
landing
Also: touchdown
📝 In Action
El piloto anunció que el aterrizaje sería en diez minutos.
A2The pilot announced that the landing would be in ten minutes.
La pista de aterrizaje estaba cubierta de nieve, lo que causó retrasos.
B1The landing strip was covered in snow, which caused delays.
Tuvieron que realizar un aterrizaje de emergencia por fallas técnicas.
B2They had to carry out an emergency landing due to technical failures.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: aterrizaje
Question 1 of 2
Which word is the verb form of 'aterrizaje'?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word is built from the prefix 'a-' (meaning 'toward' or 'on'), the noun 'tierra' (meaning 'earth' or 'ground'), and the noun suffix '-aje' (indicating an action or result). It literally means 'the action of reaching the ground.'
First recorded: 19th century (coinciding with early aviation)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say 'takeoff' in Spanish?
The opposite of 'aterrizaje' (landing) is 'despegue' (takeoff). Both words follow the pattern of converting a verb ('despegar' or 'aterrizar') into a masculine noun using the suffix '-e' or '-aje'.
Does 'aterrizaje' only refer to planes?
While it is most common for airplanes, it can also refer to spacecraft (e.g., lunar landing) or, metaphorically, the sudden arrival of a person or idea into a new place.