Inklingo

How to Say "height" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “height” is “altura” — use 'altura' for the general physical measurement of something's vertical dimension, like the height of a mountain, a building, or an object..

altura🔊A1

Use 'altura' for the general physical measurement of something's vertical dimension, like the height of a mountain, a building, or an object.

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talla🔊B1

Use 'talla' specifically for the physical stature or height of a person.

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alteza🔊C1

Use 'alteza' for a notable physical height or loftiness, often implying grandeur or prominence, like the height of a tower.

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eminencia🔊C1

Use 'eminencia' to describe a physical prominence or elevated point on the land from which one can see a wider area.

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cima🔊C1

Use 'cima' metaphorically to refer to the peak or highest point of one's career, fame, or a similar abstract achievement.

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punta🔊B2

Use 'punta' to indicate a peak or maximum level, most commonly in the context of time, like 'hora punta' (rush hour).

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alto🔊B1

Use 'alto' as a noun, though less common, to refer to the top or highest part of something, often found in specific phrases like 'lo alto de la montaña'.

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English → Spanish

altura

ahl-TOO-rah/alˈtu.ɾa/

nounA1general
Use 'altura' for the general physical measurement of something's vertical dimension, like the height of a mountain, a building, or an object.
A tall blue giraffe standing next to a large ruler embedded in the ground, used to measure its physical height.

Examples

La altura de la montaña es de 5000 metros.

The mountain's height (or altitude) is 5,000 meters.

¿Cuál es tu altura? Eres muy alto.

What is your height? You are very tall.

El avión volaba a gran altura.

The plane was flying at great altitude.

Always Feminine

Since 'altura' ends in '-a' and uses 'la', remember it is always treated as a feminine word.

Mixing Altitude and Depth

Mistake: “Usar 'altura' para hablar de cuán profundo es un agujero.”

Correction: Use 'profundidad' (depth) for things going down, and 'altura' for things going up.

talla

TAH-yah/ˈtaʎa/

nounB1general
Use 'talla' specifically for the physical stature or height of a person.
A very tall adult person standing next to a much shorter child, illustrating the difference in their physical stature or height.

Examples

Es un jugador de alta talla, mide casi dos metros.

He is a tall player; he measures almost two meters.

Mi hermana es de talla mediana, ni muy alta ni muy baja.

My sister is of medium height, neither very tall nor very short.

Using 'Ser de'

To describe a person's general height or stature, you usually use the structure 'ser de + talla' (e.g., 'Ella es de talla pequeña').

alteza

ahl-TAY-sah/alˈte.sa/

nounC1general
Use 'alteza' for a notable physical height or loftiness, often implying grandeur or prominence, like the height of a tower.
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-syah//emiˈnensja/

nounC1general
Use 'eminencia' to describe a physical prominence or elevated point on the land from which one can see a wider area.
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.

cima

SEE-mah/ˈθi.ma/

nounC1figurative
Use 'cima' metaphorically to refer to the peak or highest point of one's career, fame, or a similar abstract achievement.
A small, silhouetted figure standing triumphantly on the narrow, pointed apex of a tall, abstract golden structure, symbolizing the highest point or pinnacle of achievement.

Examples

Ganar el premio fue la cima de su carrera como escritor.

Winning the award was the pinnacle of his career as a writer.

En ese momento, la empresa estaba en la cima de su poder.

At that moment, the company was at the height of its power.

Figurative Prepositions

When used figuratively, 'cima' almost always needs the preposition 'de' (of) to connect it to the thing being peaked (e.g., 'la cima de la fama' — the height of fame).

punta

/POON-tah//ˈpunta/

nounB2idiomatic
Use 'punta' to indicate a peak or maximum level, most commonly in the context of time, like 'hora punta' (rush hour).
A simple, stylized illustration of a very tall, snow-capped mountain peak rising sharply against a blue sky.

Examples

El tráfico es terrible en hora punta.

Traffic is terrible during rush hour.

Los precios están en punta durante el verano.

Prices are at their peak during the summer.

The 'Rush Hour' Phrase

When talking about rush hour, Spanish uses the phrase 'hora punta' (literally 'point hour'), which is the most common use of this meaning.

alto

/al-toh//ˈalto/

nounB1idiomatic
Use 'alto' as a noun, though less common, to refer to the top or highest part of something, often found in specific phrases like 'lo alto de la montaña'.
A car pulled over safely next to a large tree on a road, with two people outside stretching and taking a break from their journey.

Examples

Hicimos un alto en el camino para comer.

We made a stop on the way to eat.

La policía le dio el alto al coche.

The police ordered the car to halt.

En la carretera, hay una señal de alto.

On the road, there is a stop sign.

Altura vs. Alteza

Learners often confuse 'altura' and 'alteza'. Remember that 'altura' is the standard word for physical measurement (like altitude or height of an object), while 'alteza' suggests a more imposing or grand height, often of something that stands out significantly.

Related Translations

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