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fosa

FOH-sah/ˈfosa/

“fosa” means “grave” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:

grave, pit

Also: trench
NounfB1
A simple rectangular hole in the ground in a green field with a pile of brown soil next to it.

📝 In Action

Los arqueólogos descubrieron una fosa antigua con restos romanos.

B1

The archaeologists discovered an ancient pit with Roman remains.

Muchos soldados fueron enterrados en una fosa común.

B2

Many soldiers were buried in a mass grave.

Cavaron una fosa profunda para instalar las tuberías.

B1

They dug a deep trench to install the pipes.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • montículo (mound)

Common Collocations

  • fosa común – mass grave
  • fosa séptica – septic tank

Idioms & Expressions

  • Cavar su propia fosa – To do something that will cause your own failure or downfall.

nostril

Also: nasal passage
NounfB2
A close-up view of a person's nose showing the two nostrils.

📝 In Action

Tengo la fosa nasal izquierda un poco tapada.

B2

My left nostril is a bit blocked.

El aire entra por las fosas nasales y se calienta.

B2

Air enters through the nostrils and warms up.

El médico le examinó las fosas nasales con una luz.

C1

The doctor examined his nasal passages with a light.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • orificio nasal (nasal opening)

Common Collocations

  • fosa nasal – nostril

ocean trench

Also: abyss
NounfC1formal
A deep V-shaped valley at the bottom of a dark blue ocean with small fish swimming above.

📝 In Action

La fosa de las Marianas es el lugar más profundo del mundo.

B2

The Mariana Trench is the deepest place in the world.

Existen criaturas extrañas viviendo en las fosas oceánicas.

C1

There are strange creatures living in the ocean trenches.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • fosa oceánica – ocean trench
  • fosa tectónica – rift valley / tectonic trench

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: fosa

Question 1 of 3

What is a 'fosa común'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
foso(moat / pit) — Noun
fosado(ditched / surrounded by a moat) — Adjective
fosar(to dig a ditch) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'fossa', which means 'ditch' or 'trench'. This comes from the verb 'fodere', meaning 'to dig'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: fossilFrench: fosseItalian: fossa

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'fosa' the same as 'hoyo'?

Not exactly. 'Hoyo' is a general word for any hole. 'Fosa' implies a deeper, more specific, or man-made excavation like a grave or a technical trench.

What is the difference between 'fosa' and 'foso'?

'Fosa' is feminine and usually refers to a grave, a pit, or a nostril. 'Foso' is masculine and usually refers to a moat around a castle or the pit in a mechanic's shop where they stand under the car.

How do you say 'to dig a grave' in Spanish?

You would say 'cavar una fosa'.