montón
Lemma Details
Translation: heap; pile; stack; lot; loads; bunch
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Old Spanish 'montón', derived from Latin 'montem' (accusative of 'mons', meaning 'mountain') with the augmentative suffix '-ón'. The word evolved from the concept of a mountain-like accumulation to any pile or heap. The English cognate 'mount' shares the same Latin root, though 'montón' emphasizes quantity rather than height.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 40%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Hay un montón de libros en la mesa.
There's a pile of books on the table.
Tengo un montón de trabajo que hacer.
I have a lot of work to do.
Gracias por tu ayuda, me has quitado un montón de encima.
Thanks for your help, you've taken a huge weight off my shoulders.
Los niños recogieron un montón de hojas en el jardín.
The children gathered a heap of leaves in the garden.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'montón' as a 'mountain' of things piled up.
- The '-ón' ending in Spanish often indicates something large, so 'montón' is like a 'big mount' of items.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, 'montón' is frequently used in colloquial speech to emphasize quantity. The phrase 'un montón de' is particularly common in everyday conversation to indicate abundance, similar to how English speakers might say 'tons of' or 'loads of'.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Montón' (with accent) is the correct spelling, while 'monton' (without accent) is a misspelling. The accent indicates stress on the last syllable.
Confused word:
Monton no es una palabra correcta en español.
Monton is not a correct word in Spanish.
Notes: Spanish learners often forget to include the accent mark, which changes both pronunciation and meaning.
Mnemonic: Remember the accent in 'montón' by thinking of it as pointing to a pile rising up.
Explanation: While 'montón' refers to a pile or heap of things, 'montaña' specifically means 'mountain'. They share the same Latin root but have different applications.
Notes: Both words evoke the image of something tall or accumulated, but 'montaña' is a geographical feature while 'montón' is any accumulated mass.
Mnemonic: Montón is for man-made piles; montaña is for natural mountains.