caudal
“caudal” means “flow” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
flow
Also: volume, discharge
📝 In Action
Después de la tormenta, el caudal del río aumentó peligrosamente.
B1After the storm, the river's flow increased dangerously.
Este grifo tiene muy poco caudal de agua.
A2This tap has a very low water flow.
Es necesario medir el caudal para evitar inundaciones.
B2It is necessary to measure the volume of flow to avoid floods.
wealth
Also: fortune, wealth of
📝 In Action
El profesor tiene un gran caudal de conocimientos.
C1The professor has a great wealth of knowledge.
La familia perdió todo su caudal en la guerra.
C2The family lost their entire fortune in the war.
Internet nos ofrece un caudal infinito de información.
B2The internet offers us an infinite wealth of information.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: caudal
Question 1 of 3
If a river is described as having a 'gran caudal', what does it mean?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'cauda' meaning 'tail'. It originally referred to the train or rear part of something, then evolved to describe the 'trailing' flow of water, and eventually the 'volume' of riches one possesses.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'caudal' the same as 'río'?
No. 'Río' is the physical body of water (the river). 'Caudal' is the amount of water that is actually flowing through it at that moment.
Can I use 'caudal' for air?
Yes! In technical contexts, you can talk about 'caudal de aire' to describe the amount of air moving through a ventilation system or a pump.
Is it a common word in daily conversation?
It's common when talking about the weather (rain/rivers) or technical repairs (plumbing). In its 'wealth' meaning, it's more common in literature, news, or formal speeches.