cima
Lemma Details
Translation: summit; peak; top; height; pinnacle
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'cyma' meaning 'sprout' or 'shoot', which came from Greek 'kyma' meaning 'wave' or 'swell'. The semantic evolution went from describing a wave-like shape to referring to the highest point of something. The English word 'cyme' (a type of flower cluster) shares this same Greek-Latin origin, though with a different meaning path.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Llegaron a la cima de la montaña después de seis horas.
They reached the summit of the mountain after six hours.
Su ambición es llegar a la cima de su profesión.
His ambition is to reach the top of his profession.
Desde la cima se podía ver todo el valle.
From the peak, you could see the entire valley.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'climbing' to the 'cima' (summit).
- Imagine the 'c' in cima as the peak of a mountain with the rest of the word as the slope.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries with mountainous regions like Spain, Peru, Chile, and Mexico, 'cima' has cultural significance in relation to mountaineering traditions and geographical identity. The concept of reaching the 'cima' is also used metaphorically in discussions about achievement and success.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Cima' means 'summit' or 'peak', while 'sima' means 'chasm' or 'abyss' - they are actually opposites, one referring to the highest point and the other to a deep hole or depression.
This word:
Alcanzamos la cima de la montaña al amanecer.
We reached the summit of the mountain at dawn.
Confused word:
Tuvieron cuidado de no caer en la sima profunda.
They were careful not to fall into the deep chasm.
Notes: The difference is just one letter but the meanings are completely opposite - one refers to heights, the other to depths.
Mnemonic: 'Cima' starts with 'C' for 'climb up', while 'sima' starts with 'S' for 'sink down'.
Explanation: 'Cima' means 'summit' or 'peak', while 'clima' means 'climate' or 'weather'. They look and sound similar but have completely different meanings.
Notes: Both words are commonly used in discussions about mountains, as climate changes with altitude.
Mnemonic: 'Clima' has an extra 'l' - think of the 'l' as representing a long-term weather pattern (climate).