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How to Say "dam" in Spanish

English → Spanish

presa

PREH-sah/ˈpɾe.sa/

nounB2
Use 'presa' for a large, engineered barrier built across a river or stream to control water flow, often for purposes like generating electricity or irrigation.
A storybook illustration of a massive concrete dam structure blocking a blue river, creating a large reservoir on one side.

Examples

La construcción de la presa cambió el ecosistema del valle.

The construction of the dam changed the valley's ecosystem.

Tuvimos que cruzar la presa para llegar al otro lado del río.

We had to cross the dam to get to the other side of the river.

muro

/MOO-roh//ˈmu.ɾo/

nounA1
Use 'muro' for a general wall, which could include a smaller structure holding back water in a garden or a similar, less monumental context.
A simple illustration of a thick, gray stone wall separating two sides of a grassy field under a sunny sky.

Examples

El muro del jardín es muy alto y de piedra.

The garden wall is very high and made of stone.

Tuvieron que construir un muro de contención para evitar el deslizamiento de tierra.

They had to build a retaining wall to prevent the landslide.

Gender Reminder

Remember that 'muro' is a masculine noun, so use 'el' (the) and masculine adjectives with it: 'el muro blanco' (the white wall).

Presa vs. Muro

Learners often use 'muro' for any structure holding back water. Remember that 'presa' is the specific term for a large dam built across a river, while 'muro' is a more general word for a wall.

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