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relieve

reh-LYEH-beh/reˈljeβe/

“relieve” means “relief” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

relief, texture

Also: embossing, terrain
NounmB1
A close-up of a carved wooden panel showing raised floral patterns.

📝 In Action

Este mapa en relieve permite sentir dónde están las montañas.

A2

This relief map lets you feel where the mountains are.

Las monedas antiguas suelen tener el relieve muy gastado.

B1

Ancient coins usually have very worn-down textures.

Me encanta el relieve de las paredes de esta catedral.

B2

I love the carvings on the walls of this cathedral.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • rugosidad (roughness/texture)
  • topografía (topography)

Antonyms

  • llanura (flatness/plain)
  • lisura (smoothness)

Common Collocations

  • mapa en relieve – 3D relief map
  • bajo relieve – low relief (art)
  • alto relieve – high relief (art)

prominence, importance

Also: distinction
NounmB2formal
A single bright red bird sitting on a branch among many grey birds.

📝 In Action

El informe puso de relieve la falta de inversión en educación.

B2

The report highlighted the lack of investment in education.

Sus logros científicos le dieron un gran relieve internacional.

C1

Her scientific achievements gave her great international prominence.

El problema cobró relieve tras las protestas del lunes.

C1

The problem gained importance after Monday's protests.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • insignificancia (insignificance)
  • oscuridad (obscurity)

Common Collocations

  • poner de relieve – to highlight / to emphasize
  • cobrar relieve – to become prominent

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: relieve

Question 1 of 3

If you see a map where the mountains actually stick out so you can feel them, what kind of map is it?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin verb 'relevare,' which means 'to raise up' or 'to lift again.' This perfectly describes how physical relief rises up from a flat surface.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: reliefItalian: rilievo

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'relieve' ever used as a verb?

Yes! While 'relieve' is primarily a noun, it is also a form of the verb 'relevar' (to take over for someone or to relieve someone of duty). For example: 'Espero que él me relieve pronto' (I hope he takes over for me soon).

What is the difference between 'relieve' and 'alivio'?

This is a common mix-up! 'Relieve' means texture, 3D shape, or prominence. 'Alivio' means the feeling of being better after pain, worry, or stress.

Is 'relieve' masculine or feminine?

It is masculine: 'el relieve'. Even though many nouns ending in 'e' can be either, this one is strictly 'he'.