Did you know that there are eight major mountain ranges within Spain? Los Pirineos stand tall in the northeast, followed by the Sistema Ibérico just below them. Moving north, you encounter the Cordillera Cantábrica. In the eastern part of the country, you’ll find the Sierra de Cuenca and Serranía de Cuenca. Centred in the Iberian Peninsula are the Montes de Toledo. Heading south, the landscape features the Cordillera Bética and the majestic Sierra Nevada.
In Spanish, the word for mountain is the similar-sounding montaña. It originates from the Latin vulgar term *montania, derived from mons / montis, which means ‘mountain.’
Latin American Pronunciation
European Spanish Pronunciation
Montaña is a feminine noun that takes the following definite and indefinite articles:
- la montaña = the mountain
- las montañas = the mountains
- una montaña = a mountain
- unas montañas = some mountains
El monte Everest es la montaña más alta del mundo.
Mt. Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
The singular montaña can also be used to refer to the mountains if you are referring to a mountainous area.
Mi tía tiene una casa en la montaña.
My aunt has a house in the mountains.
To climb a mountain translates to escalar una montaña or subir una montaña whereas to walk in the mountains translates to caminar en las montañas.
Some useful terms containing montaña include:
- ciclismo de montaña = mountain biking
- bicicleta de montaña = mountain bike
- montaña rusa = rollercoaster (literally “Russian mountain”)
- refugio de montaña = mountain retreat
- cadena de montañas = mountain range
- ladera de la montaña = mountainside
- pueblo de montaña = mountain village
- puerto de montaña = mountain pass
Somewhat unsurprisingly, montaña also carries the figurative meaning of ‘load‘ or ‘pile‘ (similar to how mountain can refer to ‘a big pile‘ in English).
Hay una montaña de documentos en mi escritorio.
There is a pile of documents on my desk.
Before we conclude this article, let’s take a quick look at two useful idioms featuring this word.
Hacer una montaña de un grano de arena
English meaning: to make a mountain out of a molehill
Literal translation: to make a mountain out of a grain of sand
Hacer una montaña de algo
English meaning: to blow something out of proportion
Literal translation: to make a mountain out of something
Mover montañas
English meaning: To accomplish something very difficult or seemingly impossible
Literal translation: To move mountains
Finally, there’s the Spanish idiom “Si la montaña no viene a Mahoma, Mahoma irá a la montaña”, translating to “If the mountain doesn’t come to Muhammad, Muhammad will go to the mountain” in English. This expression conveys the idea that if things or opportunities don’t come to you, you should take the initiative and go after them. This idiom is often used to inspire action and self-motivation, encouraging people to be proactive in seeking opportunities or solutions.
