Skip to content

concha

shell

noun KON-chah Rare

Origin: From Latin concha, from Greek konkhē (mussel, shell).

Also means

conch

Usage Note

Concha primarily means a seashell or conch, and is the standard word across Spain and most regions. However, in several Latin American countries (especially Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay) it is a vulgar term for female genitalia, so speakers from those regions use caracol or valva instead when discussing shells. Exercise care in mixed Latin American contexts.

Examples

"Encontró una concha en la playa."

Natural Translation

She found a shell on the beach.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore Spanish by topic