monte

mountain; hill; woodland

noun MON-teh Less Common

Origin: From Latin mons, montis, 'mountain'.

Usage Note

Monte is broader than montaña (mountain): it can mean a mountain, a hill, or uncultivated wooded land (el monte bajo, scrubland). In Latin America al monte can mean into the wilderness or bush. The compound monte de piedad is the traditional name for a pawnshop in Spain. Learners expecting it to always mean a tall peak should note the 'woodland/scrub' sense.

Examples

"Subimos al monte para ver el amanecer."

Natural Translation

We climbed the mountain to see the sunrise.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Por vs Para in Spanish: One Mental Model, No Acronyms

Por looks backward at cause and path; para looks forward at goal and destination. Master por vs para in Spanish with one mental model — no acronyms needed.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Reflexive Verbs: Me, Te, Se Made Clear

Spanish reflexive verbs use me, te, se for actions you do to yourself. Master the daily-routine pattern, pronoun placement, and shifts like dormir vs dormirse.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Accent Marks: 3 Rules for Every Word

A Spanish word needs an accent mark in just three cases: it breaks the default stress, it's a homophone, or a weak vowel splits off. Here are all three rules.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

You're Welcome in Spanish: Beyond De Nada

You're welcome in Spanish is more than de nada. Learn con gusto, no hay de qué, a la orden and more — and which to use by region and how formal the moment is.

June 3, 2026 6 min read