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montaña

mohn-TAHN-yah/monˈta.ɲa/

“montaña” means “mountain” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

mountain

Also: mount
NounfA1
Spain (Northern Regions)
A tall, majestic mountain peak covered in snow, rising sharply against a bright blue sky, illustrating a natural elevation.

📝 In Action

Me encanta hacer senderismo en la montaña durante el verano.

A1

I love hiking in the mountain during the summer.

Desde la cima de la montaña, la vista es increíble.

A2

From the summit of the mountain, the view is incredible.

Los picos de las montañas estaban cubiertos de nieve fresca.

B1

The mountain peaks were covered in fresh snow.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • cadena montañosa – mountain range
  • escalar una montaña – to climb a mountain

heap, pile

Also: mountain (of work, etc.)
NounfB2neutral/informal
A massive, disorganized pile of colorful children's toys, including building blocks and stuffed animals, forming a large heap.

📝 In Action

Tengo una montaña de trabajo que terminar antes del viernes.

B2

I have a mountain of work to finish before Friday.

Después de la fiesta, había una montaña de platos sucios en el fregadero.

B2

After the party, there was a heap of dirty dishes in the sink.

Necesitamos mover esa montaña de cajas del garaje.

C1

We need to move that pile of boxes from the garage.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • pila (stack/pile)
  • montón (heap/lot)

Common Collocations

  • una montaña de papeleo – a mountain of paperwork
  • una montaña de deudas – a mountain of debt

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "montaña" in Spanish:

heap→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: montaña

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'montaña' in its figurative sense?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
montañoso(mountainous) — Adjective
montañista(mountain climber) — Noun
montar(to mount/to ride) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
telarañacampaña
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the Vulgar Latin *montanea*, which itself is an adjective derived from the classical Latin *mons*, meaning 'mountain.' It has been used in Spanish since the early Middle Ages.

First recorded: 12th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: montagneItalian: montagnaPortuguese: montanha

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'montaña' and 'colina'?

'Montaña' is a large, tall, often rugged elevation, usually much higher than its surroundings. 'Colina' (hill) is smaller, softer, and less steep. Think of a mountain as needing special gear to climb, and a hill as something you can easily walk up.

How do I say 'mountain range'?

The common phrase is 'cadena montañosa,' which literally translates to 'mountain chain.'