monte
Lemma Details
Translation: mountain; mount; hill; woodland; forest; bush; scrubland; fund; bank (in card games)
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin 'mons, montis' meaning 'mountain'. The English words 'mountain', 'mount', and 'montane' share this Latin root. The meaning expanded in Spanish to include wooded areas and scrubland, as mountains were often covered with vegetation. The card game meaning derives from the pile or 'mountain' of cards used in certain games.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Subimos al monte para ver el amanecer.
We climbed the mountain to see the sunrise.
Se perdió en el monte durante tres días.
He got lost in the woods for three days.
El cazador se internó en el monte en busca de presas.
The hunter went into the wilderness looking for prey.
En este juego de cartas, el monte siempre gana.
In this card game, the bank always wins.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'mount' in English, which is clearly related to 'monte'
- Picture a mountain with trees to remember both the 'mountain' and 'woodland' meanings
- For the card game meaning, imagine a 'mountain' of cards piled up as the bank
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, especially rural areas, 'monte' often refers to wild, uncultivated land rather than specifically a mountain. In card games like Monte, it refers to the dealer's bank. The term has significant cultural importance in regions where mountains or forests play a key role in local geography and lifestyle.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Monte' means mountain or woodland, while 'monto' means amount or sum of money.
This word:
Vamos a escalar ese monte este fin de semana.
We're going to climb that mountain this weekend.
Confused word:
El monto total de la factura es de 500 euros.
The total amount of the bill is 500 euros.
Notes: Both words are common in everyday Spanish, but in completely different contexts.
Mnemonic: 'Monte' ends with 'e' like 'tree' - think of forests and mountains with trees. 'Monto' ends with 'o' like 'owe' - think of money you owe.
Explanation: 'Monte' is a noun referring to a mountain or woodland, while 'montar' is a verb meaning 'to mount' or 'to ride'.
This word:
Hay un monte muy bonito cerca de mi pueblo.
There is a beautiful mountain near my village.
Notes: The verb 'montar' is related to 'monte' etymologically, both coming from the same Latin root.
Mnemonic: 'Montar' has an 'r' at the end like 'ride' - it's an action. 'Monte' is the place where you might ride.