orilla

shore

noun oh-REE-yah Less Common

Origin: From Latin ora (edge, border).

Also means

bank (of a river)

Usage Note

Orilla refers to the edge of any body of water: a riverbank, lakeside, or seashore. It is more poetic and general than playa (beach, specifically sandy) or ribera (riverbank, more literary). The phrase a orillas del río (on the banks of the river) is a common construction.

Examples

"Paseamos por la orilla del lago al atardecer."

Natural Translation

We walked along the shore of the lake at sunset.

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