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olas

OH-lahs/ˈo.las/

“olas” means “waves” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

waves

Also: surf
NounfA1
A simple illustration of three large, foamy blue ocean waves rolling across the water surface.

📝 In Action

Las olas del mar estaban muy grandes hoy.

A1

The ocean waves were very big today.

Me gusta escuchar el sonido de las olas en la playa.

A1

I like listening to the sound of the waves on the beach.

Los surfistas esperan las mejores olas.

A2

The surfers wait for the best waves.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • marejada (swell)
  • rompientes (breakers)

Common Collocations

  • olas gigantes – giant waves
  • olas pequeñas – small waves
  • romper las olas – to break the waves (as they hit the shore)

wave

Also: trend, spell
NounfB1
A large, dense crowd of simplified, colorful human figures rushing forward quickly, illustrating a surge of people.

📝 In Action

Hay una ola de calor en el sur del país.

B1

There is a heat wave in the south of the country.

El país experimentó una ola de protestas.

B2

The country experienced a wave of protests.

Se sintió una ola de tristeza al escuchar la noticia.

B1

A wave of sadness was felt upon hearing the news.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • ola de crímenes – crime wave
  • ola de frío – cold spell/wave
  • ola migratoria – migratory wave

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "olas" in Spanish:

surf→trend→waves→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: olas

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'olas' in its figurative (non-water) sense?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
ola(wave (singular)) — Noun
oleaje(swell, surf) — Noun
ondular(to undulate, to wave) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
colasbolas
📚 Etymology▼

The Spanish word 'olas' comes from the singular 'ola,' which developed from the Latin word *unda*, meaning 'wave' or 'flow.' This root word has always been associated with moving water.

First recorded: Medieval period (as *ola*)

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: ondaFrench: onde

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'ola' related to the greeting 'hola'?

No, they are completely different words! 'Hola' (hello) comes from an old interjection, while 'ola' (wave) comes from a Latin word for water movement. They just happen to sound the same.

How do I describe very calm water using 'olas'?

You can say 'No hay olas' (There are no waves) or 'Las olas son muy suaves' (The waves are very gentle). If the water is completely still, you might use 'calma' (calm).