Spanish · Nature, Animals & Weather
"Wave (sea)" in Spanish: ola
la ola
A sea wave is la ola (OH-lah). It is feminine: la ola, las olas. Big waves are olas grandes. Do not confuse ola with hola (hello).
How to pronounce ola: audio and sound guideAt the beach
Mira esa ola grande.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce ola
Say it
OH-lah
/ˈola/
OH-lah. Stress OH. No silent letters. Keep ola short; hola has an h sound that is silent too, but spelling differs.
"Wave (sea)" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la ola | the wave One sea wave. | One sea wave. |
| las olas | the waves Plural at the beach. | Plural at the beach. |
| ola grande | big wave Size talk. | Size talk. |
| romper las olas | to break (of waves) Surf and shore talk. | Surf and shore talk. |
How to use ola in real life
- 1At the beach
Mira esa ola grande.
Look at that big wave.
Esa ola points to one wave.
- 2Swimming warning
Las olas están fuertes hoy.
The waves are strong today.
Las olas for conditions.
- 3Kids playing
La ola mojó mis zapatos.
The wave got my shoes wet.
La ola as subject.
Mistakes English speakers make with ola
Incorrect: El ola es alta.
Correct: La ola es alta.
Ola is feminine: la ola.
Incorrect: Vi dos olas grandes. Espera—digo hola del mar.
Correct: Vi dos olas grandes.
Ola is wave; hola is hello. Keep ola for the sea.
Good to know
Good to knowBeach towns from Peru to Mexico watch la ola before swimming. Lifeguards shout about olas fuertes; surfers wait for a clean ola near the break.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Standing at the shoreline
ChatPal
¿Ves esa ola?
Do you see that wave?
You
Sí. La ola se ve alta.
Yes. The wave looks tall.
ChatPal
No entres muy lejos.
Don't go in too far.
You
Solo hasta la rodilla.
Only up to the knee.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Wave (sea)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Wave (sea)" in Spanish
Is ola feminine?
Yes: la ola, las olas.
Ola or hola?
Ola is wave. Hola is hello. Different spelling.
How do you pronounce ola?
OH-lah with stress on OH.
How do I say big waves?
Olas grandes.
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