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caverna

kah-BEHR-nah/kaˈβeɾna/

cave

Also: cavern, hollow
NounfA2
A large, dark natural stone cave opening with stalactites hanging from the ceiling and stalagmites on the floor.

📝 In Action

Los excursionistas entraron en una caverna profunda.

A2

The hikers entered a deep cave.

En esta caverna hay pinturas de animales muy antiguas.

B1

In this cavern, there are very old paintings of animals.

La luz de la linterna apenas iluminaba la inmensa caverna.

B2

The flashlight beam barely lit up the immense cavern.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cueva (cave)
  • gruta (grotto)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • caverna profunda – deep cave
  • pinturas de la caverna – cave paintings
  • paredes de la caverna – cavern walls

Idioms & Expressions

  • El mito de la caverna – A famous philosophical story by Plato about reality and perception.

reactionary

Also: the far-right
NounfC1informal
Spain
A person wearing outdated, heavy Victorian-era clothing standing in a modern city street, looking confused by a smartphone.

📝 In Action

Ese comentario es propio de la caverna mediática.

C1

That comment is typical of the reactionary media.

La caverna se opone a cualquier tipo de progreso social.

C2

The ultra-conservatives oppose any kind of social progress.

No escuches sus ideas, son de la caverna.

C1

Don't listen to his ideas; they are backwards/reactionary.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • reaccionario (reactionary)
  • retrógrado (backward-thinking)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • caverna mediática – reactionary press

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "caverna" in Spanish:

cave→cavern→hollow→reactionary→the far-right→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: caverna

Question 1 of 3

Which word is more common for a small hole in a mountain?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
cavernícola(caveman/cavewoman) — Noun
cavernoso(cavernous/deep) — Adjective
cavernidad(hollowness) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'caverna,' which comes from 'cavus,' meaning 'hollow' or 'empty space.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: cavernFrench: caverneItalian: caverna

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'caverna' the same as 'cueva'?

Almost. They both mean 'cave,' but 'caverna' usually implies a larger, deeper, or more majestic underground space.

Can I use 'caverna' for a basement?

No, 'caverna' is specifically for natural rock formations. For a basement, use 'sótano'.

Why do people talk about Plato and a 'caverna'?

Plato's 'Allegory of the Cave' (El mito de la caverna) is a very famous philosophical story used to explain how humans perceive reality.