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How to Say "elevation" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “elevation” is “altitud” — use 'altitud' when referring to the height of a landform or a location above sea level, especially in geographical contexts.

English → Spanish

altitud

al-tee-toodaltiˈtuð

nounB1general
Use 'altitud' when referring to the height of a landform or a location above sea level, especially in geographical contexts.
A small red airplane flying high above a range of snowy mountain peaks and a distant blue ocean.

Examples

La altitud de la ciudad de México es muy alta.

The altitude of Mexico City is very high.

Muchos escaladores sufren por la altitud en el Everest.

Many climbers suffer because of the altitude on Everest.

El piloto anunció que volaríamos a una altitud constante.

The pilot announced that we would fly at a constant altitude.

The '-tud' Ending

Spanish words that end in '-tud' are almost always feminine. This means you should always use 'la' (la altitud) or 'una' (una altitud).

Altitud vs. Altura

Use 'altitud' when talking about height above sea level. Use 'altura' when talking about how tall a person is or how high a ceiling is.

Confusing height with altitude

Mistake: “Mi hermano tiene una gran altitud.”

Correction: Mi hermano es muy alto (or has a 'gran altura'). Use 'altitud' for mountains and planes, not people.

elevación

nounB1general
Use 'elevación' for the general height of something above a specific level, often used for measurements or describing a place's height.

Examples

La ciudad se encuentra a una elevación de mil metros sobre el nivel del mar.

The city is at an elevation of one thousand meters above sea level.

alteza

ahl-TAY-sahalˈte.sa

nounC1general
Use 'alteza' to describe the physical height of an object or structure, emphasizing its prominence or how high it stands.
A massive, sharp mountain peak covered in snow, reaching vertically high into a clear blue sky, emphasizing its extreme height.

Examples

La alteza del campanario dominaba el horizonte del pueblo.

The height of the bell tower dominated the town's horizon.

Se reconocía la alteza de su espíritu y de sus principios éticos.

The loftiness of his spirit and his ethical principles was recognized.

Interchangeability

In most cases where you mean physical height, you should use the much more common word 'altura' instead of 'alteza'.

eminencia

eh-mee-NEN-syahemiˈnensja

nounC1general
Use 'eminencia' to refer to a natural high point or a raised area of land, like a hill or mound, from which one can observe the surroundings.
A tall, grassy hill rising above a flat landscape under a clear blue sky.

Examples

Desde la eminencia del cerro se podía ver todo el valle.

From the height of the hill, one could see the whole valley.

Confusing Geographic vs. General Height

The most common mistake is using 'altitud' for any kind of height. Remember, 'altitud' is specifically for geographical height above sea level or a reference point. For general height of objects or specific measurements, 'elevación' is often more appropriate.

Related Translations

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