cantera
“cantera” means “quarry” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
quarry
Also: stone pit
📝 In Action
La piedra para construir la catedral vino de una cantera local.
B1The stone to build the cathedral came from a local quarry.
Trabajar en la cantera es un empleo muy duro y físico.
B2Working in the quarry is a very hard and physical job.
Hay varias canteras de mármol en esta región de España.
B1There are several marble quarries in this region of Spain.
youth academy
Also: farm system, breeding ground
📝 In Action
El Barcelona es famoso por tener una gran cantera de jugadores.
B1Barcelona is famous for having a great youth academy for players.
Este joven talento subió al primer equipo desde la cantera.
B2This young talent was promoted to the first team from the youth system.
La universidad es una cantera de futuros científicos.
C1The university is a breeding ground for future scientists.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "cantera" in Spanish:
breeding ground→farm system→quarry→stone pit→youth academy→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cantera
Question 1 of 3
If a soccer player has played for the same club since they were 10 years old, they are a player from the...
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From 'canto' (meaning stone or edge), which comes from Vulgar Latin 'canthus', a word likely of Celtic origin referring to the iron rim of a wheel.
First recorded: 13th Century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'cantera' only apply to soccer?
While it is most famous in soccer, it can be used for any sport or even business/academic settings where young talent is developed internally.
What is the difference between 'cantera' and 'mina'?
A 'mina' is usually for underground minerals (gold, silver, coal), while a 'cantera' is usually an open-air site specifically for building stones (marble, granite, limestone).
Is 'cantera' used in Latin America?
Yes, although some countries like Mexico prefer 'fuerzas básicas' and Argentina prefers 'semillero', 'cantera' is widely understood throughout the Spanish-speaking world.