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.
Use 'altitud' when referring to the height of a landform or a location above sea level, especially in geographical contexts.
Learn more →Use 'elevación' for the general height of something above a specific level, often used for measurements or describing a place's height.
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Use 'alteza' to describe the physical height of an object or structure, emphasizing its prominence or how high it stands.
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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.
Learn more →al-tee-toodaltiˈtuð
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
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.
ahl-TAY-sahalˈte.sa
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'.
eh-mee-NEN-syahemiˈnensja
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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