An aerial view illustration showing a deep blue bay surrounded by lush green land, clearly depicting a sheltered coastal inlet.

bahía

ba-EE-ah

nounfB1

bay?coastal inlet,gulf?large coastal inlet (less common than 'golfo')

Also:cove?very small inlet (often used interchangeably with 'ensenada')

📝 In Action

La bahía estaba llena de pequeños barcos de pesca.

The bay was full of small fishing boats.

Fuimos a nadar en la parte más profunda de la bahía.

We went swimming in the deepest part of the bay.

El faro marca la entrada a la bahía, guiando a los marineros.

The lighthouse marks the entrance to the bay, guiding the sailors.

Word Connections

Synonyms

ensenada (cove, small bay)
rada (roadstead, sheltered anchorage)

Common Collocations

bahía protegida – sheltered bay
la boca de la bahía – the mouth of the bay
vista a la bahía – bay view

💡 Grammar Points

Gender and Articles

As a feminine noun, 'bahía' always uses feminine articles: 'la bahía' (the bay) or 'una bahía' (a bay).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Bahía and Golfo

Mistake: "Using 'bahía' for a massive area like the 'Golfo de México'."

Correction: 'Golfo' is reserved for huge, expansive inlets (like a gulf). 'Bahía' is typically smaller, more enclosed, and often associated with towns or ports.

⭐ Usage Tips

The Accent Mark

The accent on the 'i' (í) is essential! It tells you to pronounce the vowels separately: 'ba-EE-ah,' not 'bai-a.' This is common for words where two vowels are next to each other but pronounced in different syllables.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: bahía

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'bahía'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

costa(coast) - noun

marítimo(maritime) - adjective

puerto(port, harbor) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'bahía' have an accent mark on the 'i'?

The accent mark indicates that the 'a' and 'i' must be pronounced as two separate syllables (ba-HÍ-a). Without the accent, the word would be pronounced as one syllable ('bai-a'), which is incorrect for this word.