How to Say "rock" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “rock” is “piedra” — use 'piedra' when referring to a small, loose piece of mineral material, like a pebble or a stone you might pick up..
piedra
pee-AY-drah/'pjeðɾa/
Examples
El niño recogió una piedra lisa de la orilla.
The child picked up a smooth stone from the shore.
Lanzó una pequeña piedra al río para hacer ondas.
She threw a small stone into the river to make ripples.
Esta pared está hecha de piedra antigua.
This wall is made of ancient rock.
El camino estaba lleno de piedras sueltas.
The road was full of loose stones.
Feminine Noun Rule
Remember that 'piedra' is always feminine, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it, and any describing words (adjectives) must also end in '-a' (e.g., 'la piedra grande').
Confusing Size
Mistake: “Using 'piedra' for huge formations like a cliff or a large mountain.”
Correction: While 'piedra' means rock, for very large formations, 'roca' or 'peñasco' is usually more appropriate.
roca
ROH-kah/ˈroka/
Examples
La casa está construida sobre una gran roca sólida.
The house is built on a large solid rock.
El escalador se agarró a una roca para no caer.
The climber held onto a rock so he wouldn't fall.
Vimos muchas rocas grandes cerca del mar.
We saw many large rocks near the sea.
La geología es el estudio de las rocas y la tierra.
Geology is the study of rocks and the earth.
Feminine Noun Rule
Remember that 'roca' is always feminine, so you must use feminine articles and adjectives: 'la roca' (the rock), 'una roca grande' (a big rock).
Using Figuratively
When using 'roca' to describe a person, you are emphasizing their emotional strength or reliability, not their physical appearance.
roca
ROH-kah/ˈroka/
Examples
A pesar de todo, ella fue la roca de su familia.
Despite everything, she was the rock of her family.
El escalador se agarró a una roca para no caer.
The climber held onto a rock so he wouldn't fall.
Vimos muchas rocas grandes cerca del mar.
We saw many large rocks near the sea.
La geología es el estudio de las rocas y la tierra.
Geology is the study of rocks and the earth.
Feminine Noun Rule
Remember that 'roca' is always feminine, so you must use feminine articles and adjectives: 'la roca' (the rock), 'una roca grande' (a big rock).
Using Figuratively
When using 'roca' to describe a person, you are emphasizing their emotional strength or reliability, not their physical appearance.
Small Stone vs. Big Formation
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