cueva
/KWEY-vah/
cave
Cueva can mean 'cave', referring to a natural underground chamber.
📝 In Action
Exploramos una cueva oscura y profunda en la montaña.
A1We explored a dark and deep cave in the mountain.
Los murciélagos viven en las cuevas durante el día.
A2Bats live in caves during the day.
La entrada de la cueva estaba oculta por rocas.
A1The cave entrance was hidden by rocks.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Check
Remember that 'cueva' is a feminine noun, so you must use feminine articles and adjectives: 'la cueva' (the cave), 'una cueva grande' (a big cave).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up Gender
Mistake: "El cueva"
Correction: La cueva. Even though it ends in '-a', always confirm the gender for new nouns.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Caves
Common adjectives used with 'cueva' include: 'oscura' (dark), 'húmeda' (humid), and 'profunda' (deep).
Cueva can also mean 'den', often referring to an animal's lair or habitat.
cueva(noun)
den
?messy room/home or animal lair
,hideout
?secret meeting place
pit
?a dark, unpleasant place
📝 In Action
Su oficina es una cueva llena de papeles viejos.
B1His office is a den full of old papers.
Los ladrones usaron ese almacén abandonado como su cueva.
B2The thieves used that abandoned warehouse as their hideout.
No salgas de tu cueva, el día está hermoso.
B2Don't come out of your hole (referring to a secluded room), the day is beautiful.
⭐ Usage Tips
Informal Use
When referring to a messy room or someone's private, secluded space, using 'cueva' adds a touch of humor or exaggeration, implying it's dark or disorganized.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cueva
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'cueva' to mean a 'messy, secluded room'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Es 'cueva' lo mismo que 'agujero'?
No. 'Agujero' means 'hole' and is usually small. 'Cueva' refers to a large, deep chamber, usually natural, that you can walk into. Think of a hole you dig in the dirt versus a large underground cavern.
How do I use 'cueva' in a negative way?
You can use it to describe a place that is dark, dirty, or claustrophobic. Saying 'Esta casa es una cueva' implies the house is gloomy and lacks light.