How to Say "spate" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “spate” is “oleada” — B1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.

Examples
Hubo una oleada de calor el verano pasado.
There was a heatwave last summer.
Una oleada de turistas llegó al pequeño pueblo.
A wave of tourists arrived at the small town.
Sintió una fuerte oleada de nostalgia al ver las fotos.
He felt a strong surge of nostalgia when seeing the photos.
Always Feminine
Even though it refers to a 'rush' or 'surge,' this word is always feminine. You must always use 'la' or 'una' with it.
Using 'de' for description
To describe what kind of wave it is, just add 'de' followed by the noun (e.g., 'oleada de frío' for a cold snap).
Oleada vs. Ola
Mistake: “Using 'oleada' for the waves you surf on.”
Correction: Use 'ola' for physical waves in the ocean; use 'oleada' for a figurative rush of people, feelings, or weather.
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.