cordillera
Lemma Details
Translation: mountain range; mountain chain; cordillera
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Spanish 'cordilla' (diminutive of 'cuerda', meaning 'cord' or 'rope'), plus the suffix '-era'. The term evokes the image of mountains arranged like a rope or cord stretching across the landscape. The English word 'cordillera' is a direct borrowing from Spanish, maintaining both its spelling and meaning. The Latin root 'chorda' (string, cord) connects to English words like 'chord', 'cord', and 'cardiac'.
Commonality: 60%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
La Cordillera de los Andes es la cadena montañosa más larga del mundo.
The Andes Mountain Range is the longest mountain chain in the world.
Vamos a hacer senderismo en la cordillera este fin de semana.
We're going hiking in the mountain range this weekend.
La cordillera divide el país en dos regiones climáticas distintas.
The mountain range divides the country into two distinct climatic regions.
Mnemonics
- Think of a 'cord' or 'rope' (cuerda) stretching across a landscape, forming a chain of mountains.
- Imagine mountains linked together like the vertebrae in a spine or the links in a chain (cord-illera).
- Picture a 'cord' that 'lies' across the land, forming a 'cordillera'.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, especially in Latin America, cordilleras are significant geographical features that have shaped history, culture, and settlement patterns. The most famous is the Cordillera de los Andes (Andes Mountains), which runs along the western edge of South America and is culturally significant to many Andean countries. The term has been adopted into scientific and geographical vocabulary worldwide.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While both refer to mountain formations, 'cordillera' specifically refers to an extensive system or chain of mountains, often with multiple parallel ranges. 'Sierra' typically refers to a single jagged mountain range with a saw-toothed profile (sierra means 'saw' in Spanish).
Confused word:
La sierra tiene un perfil dentado como una sierra de carpintero.
The mountain range has a jagged profile like a carpenter's saw.
Notes: In some contexts, these terms may be used interchangeably, but 'cordillera' generally implies a larger, more complex system.
Mnemonic: Cordillera is like a 'cord' connecting multiple mountains; sierra is like a 'saw' with jagged teeth.
Explanation: 'Cordillera' refers to a mountain range, while 'cordelería' means 'rope factory' or 'rope shop'. They share the root 'cord/cuerda' but have completely different meanings.
This word:
Podemos ver la cordillera desde nuestra ventana.
We can see the mountain range from our window.
Confused word:
Compramos cuerdas en la cordelería del puerto.
We bought ropes at the rope shop by the port.
Notes: Both words derive from 'cuerda' (cord/rope), but with different applications.
Mnemonic: Cordillera has 'ill' in it, like 'hills'; cordelería has 'ería' like many shop names (panadería, librería).