cuna

cradle

noun KOO-nah Rare

Also means

birthplace

Usage Note

Cuna is literally a baby's cradle or crib, and figuratively the birthplace or origin of something: la cuna de la civilización (the cradle of civilization). Canción de cuna is a lullaby. The phrase de la cuna a la tumba (from the cradle to the grave) is the idiomatic equivalent of English's 'cradle to grave.' Do not confuse cuna with cuña (a wedge or a radio/TV spot), which has a tilde.

Examples

"Grecia es la cuna de la democracia."

Natural Translation

Greece is the cradle of democracy.

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