Climbing Vocabulary — Spanish ⇄ English
A reference for climbers in Spanish-speaking areas (Spain-flavoured, because that’s where I live). Regional variants are noted where they matter (e.g. Latin America).
I know some of these translations are wrong and need work.
Want to improve the translations? See them here and leave a comment. Please include what country you’re commenting from to help with regional differences
A Few Notes on Usage
- “Seguro” is overloaded. It means “safe”, “I’m anchored”, or “off belay” depending on context. Always confirm visually before taking someone off belay.
- “Cuerda” can mean “slack!” (give me rope) or “rope!” (warning, rope coming down). Tone and context decide.
- “Cuerda doble” in Spanish refers to a half rope (used as a pair on multi-pitch). Don’t confuse with “two ropes” in general English.
- “Friend” is universal — Spanish climbers use the English word, often pronounced “frien”. The plural is friends (sometimes friendes).
- Latin American countries sometimes use slight variants: e.g. cuerda can be soga in some regions, pies de gato may be gatos or zapatos de escalar, magnesio is carbonato or tiza in parts of Latin America.
- Encouragement in Spain leans loud and informal. ¡Vamos!, ¡Venga!, and ¡Tira! are universal — don’t worry about being too polite at the crag.
¡Buena escalada!
Rock Features (Características de la Roca)
Holds (Presas / Agarres)
| Spanish |
English |
Notes |
| presa / agarre |
hold |
generic |
| regleta |
crimp |
small edge for fingertips |
| regletilla / microregleta |
micro-crimp |
tiny crimp |
| canto |
edge |
flat edge |
| romo / bola |
sloper |
rounded, friction-dependent |
| pinza |
pinch |
|
| bidedo |
two-finger pocket |
“two-finger” |
| monodedo |
mono / one-finger pocket |
|
| tridedo |
three-finger pocket |
|
| hueco / agujero |
pocket / hueco |
|
| bidón / cubo |
jug / bucket |
big, comfy hold |
| presa cubo |
jug |
|
| escama |
flake |
|
| lateral / presa lateral |
sidepull |
|
| invertido / presa invertida |
undercling |
|
| gastón |
gaston |
thumb-down sidepull |
| chuleta / bolo |
knob / chickenhead |
protruding feature |
| presa de pie |
foothold |
|
| repié / pie |
foothold |
small foothold |
Wall Features (Características de la Pared)
| Spanish |
English |
Notes |
| pared / muro |
wall / face |
|
| placa |
slab |
less-than-vertical |
| vertical |
vertical |
|
| desplome |
overhanging wall |
|
| extraplomo |
steep overhang |
|
| techo |
roof |
horizontal |
| panza / barriga |
bulge |
|
| diedro |
dihedral / corner |
open-book |
| arista |
arête |
outside corner |
| fisura |
crack |
|
| fisura de dedos |
finger crack |
|
| fisura de manos |
hand crack |
|
| fisura de puños |
fist crack |
|
| fisura ancha |
off-width |
|
| chimenea |
chimney |
|
| veta / hendidura |
seam |
very thin crack |
| repisa |
ledge |
|
| reposadero |
rest ledge |
good resting spot |
| estalactita |
tufa / stalactite |
classic limestone feature |
| columna |
column / pillar / tufa |
|
| pilar |
pillar |
|
| bloque |
boulder |
also generic block |
| acantilado |
cliff / sea cliff |
|
| sector |
sector / area of crag |
|
| escuela |
crag |
“climbing school” — single-pitch sport crag |
| zona de escalada |
climbing area |
|
Techniques (Técnicas)
| Spanish |
English |
Notes |
| cantear |
to edge |
use the edge of the shoe |
| adherencia |
smearing |
friction on the shoe sole |
| talonamiento / gancho de talón |
heel hook |
|
| punteo / gancho de puntera |
toe hook |
|
| rodilla baja / egipcio |
drop knee / Egyptian |
|
| bandera |
flag |
counter-balancing leg |
| bandera interior |
inside flag |
|
| bandera exterior |
outside flag |
|
| empotre de pie |
foot jam |
|
| rodillazo / kneebar |
knee bar |
|
| oposición / puente |
stemming / bridging |
|
| sacar pies |
to move the feet up |
literally “take feet out” |
Hand / Body Techniques (Técnicas de Mano y Cuerpo)
| Spanish |
English |
Notes |
| bloqueo / bloquear |
lock-off |
|
| cruce / cruzar |
cross-through |
|
| lance / lance dinámico |
dyno |
dynamic move |
| dyno |
dyno |
also used as-is |
| punto muerto |
deadpoint |
controlled dynamic |
| igualar / juntar |
to match |
hands or feet |
| rebote / repique |
bump |
move from hold to hold quickly |
| mantle / manteo |
mantle |
|
| empotrar / empotre |
jam / jamming |
|
| empotre de mano |
hand jam |
|
| empotre de dedo |
finger jam |
|
| bicicleta |
layback (sometimes) |
also “scissor / bicycle” pedal move |
| oposición de fuerza |
layback |
classic layback in a corner |
| chimenear |
chimneying |
|
| figura cuatro |
figure four |
|
| figura ocho |
figure eight |
|
| campus |
campus |
climbing without feet |
| escalar a campus |
to campus |
|
| escalada en bloque / búlder |
bouldering |
|
Style / Tactics (Estilo y Táctica)
| Spanish |
English |
Notes |
| encadenar |
to send |
climb clean |
| encadene |
a send / a redpoint |
|
| a vista |
onsight |
first try, no info |
| flash |
flash |
first try, with info |
| ensayar |
to work / rehearse |
|
| pegada / intento |
attempt / try / go |
|
| proyecto / “el proyecto” |
project |
|
| beta / secuencia |
beta / sequence |
|
| paso clave / crux |
crux |
hardest move |
| bombear / hinchar |
to pump out |
|
| estar hinchado |
to be pumped |
|
| congestión / hinchazón |
the pump |
|
| colgar de la cuerda |
hangdog |
resting on the rope |
| caer / volar |
to fall / take a whipper |
|
| vuelo |
a fall (esp. a big one) |
“whipper” |
Equipment (Material)
Soft Goods (Material Blando)
| Spanish |
English |
Notes |
| arnés |
harness |
|
| anillo central / anillo de aseguramiento |
belay loop |
|
| perneras |
leg loops |
|
| cuerda |
rope |
|
| cuerda simple |
single rope |
|
| cuerda doble |
half rope |
⚠️ “doble” in Spanish = half rope |
| cuerda gemela |
twin rope |
|
| cuerda dinámica |
dynamic rope |
|
| cuerda estática |
static rope |
|
| cinta / cinta exprés / exprés |
quickdraw |
|
| cintas |
quickdraws (pl.) / slings |
context-dependent |
| anillo de cinta |
sling / runner |
|
| dyneema |
dyneema |
|
| cinta tubular |
webbing / tubular tape |
|
| cordino |
cord / accessory cord |
|
| cordelette |
cordelette |
also borrowed as-is |
| pies de gato |
climbing shoes |
|
| magnesio |
chalk |
|
| bolsa de magnesio |
chalk bag |
|
| pof |
“pof” / pof bag |
pine resin (Fontainebleau-style, controversial) |
| cepillo |
brush |
for cleaning holds |
| colchoneta / crash pad |
crash pad |
bouldering |
| casco |
helmet |
|
Hardware (Material Metálico)
| Spanish |
English |
Notes |
| mosquetón |
carabiner |
|
| mosquetón de seguridad |
locking carabiner |
|
| mosquetón HMS / pera |
HMS / pear-shaped carabiner |
|
| puerta recta |
straight gate |
|
| puerta curva |
bent gate |
|
| puerta de alambre |
wiregate |
|
| asegurador / aparato |
belay device |
generic |
| reverso / tubo |
tube-style belay device (ATC) |
|
| GriGri |
GriGri |
|
| autoblocante |
assisted-braking device |
|
| ocho (de rapel) |
figure-8 descender |
|
| maillón |
maillon / quicklink |
|
| chapa / plaqueta |
bolt hanger |
the visible plate |
| parabolt |
expansion bolt |
|
| químico / anclaje químico |
glue-in bolt |
|
| anclaje |
anchor point / bolt |
generic |
| reunión |
belay / anchor (the station) |
|
| descuelgue / cadenas |
lower-off / chains |
top of sport route |
| clavo / pitón |
piton |
|
Trad Gear (Material de Empotradores)
| Spanish |
English |
Notes |
| empotrador |
nut / passive pro (generic) |
|
| empotrador de cable / fisurero |
wired nut / stopper |
|
| hexagonal / hexcentric |
hex |
|
| tricam |
tricam |
|
| friend / leva |
cam / camming device |
“friend” is universal |
| friend dudoso |
marginal cam placement |
“dodgy friend” |
| micro-friend |
micro cam |
|
| ball nut |
ball nut |
|
| offset |
offset (nut or cam) |
|
| extractor / llave |
nut tool / nut key |
|
| juego (de friends / de empotradores) |
rack |
“set” |
| equipo |
full rack / setup |
broader |
Useful Phrases (Frases Útiles)
Belay Commands (Voces de Aseguramiento)
| Spanish |
English |
Notes |
| ¿Aseguras? / ¿Listo? |
On belay? / Ready? |
|
| Asegurando / Te aseguro |
Belaying / Belay on |
|
| Escalando / Voy |
Climbing |
|
| Cuando quieras / Adelante |
Climb on / Go ahead |
|
| ¡Cuerda! |
Slack! / Rope! |
“give me slack” — context |
| Dame cuerda |
Give me slack |
|
| Recoge |
Take in / up rope |
|
| Tensa |
Take! / Tension! |
|
| Tenso / Tengo |
I’ve got you (tight) |
|
| ¿Me tienes? |
Got me? |
|
| Te tengo |
I’ve got you |
|
| Bájame |
Lower me |
|
| Voy a chapar |
Clipping |
|
| ¡Chapado! |
Clipped! |
|
| Caigo / ¡Voy! |
Falling! |
|
| Libre / Estoy seguro |
Off belay / I’m safe |
“seguro” = safe/anchored |
| Hasta mí |
That’s me (end of rope) |
|
| ¡Atento! / ¡Mira! |
Watch me! |
|
| ¡Piedra! |
Rock! |
falling rock — warning |
| ¡Cuerda! (gritado desde arriba) |
Rope! |
warning when throwing rope |
Encouragement (Ánimos)
| Spanish |
English |
Notes |
| ¡Vamos! / ¡Venga! |
Come on! / Let’s go! |
|
| ¡Tú puedes! |
You can do it! |
|
| ¡Tira! |
Pull! |
“go for it” |
| ¡Aguanta! |
Hold on! |
|
| ¡Sigue! / ¡Arriba! |
Keep going! / Up! |
|
| ¡Fuerza! |
Strength! / Power! |
|
| ¡Empuja! |
Push! |
|
| ¡Confía (en los pies)! |
Trust (your feet)! |
|
| ¡Saca pies! |
Move your feet up! |
|
| ¡Respira! |
Breathe! |
|
| ¡Bien! / ¡Eso es! |
Good! / That’s it! |
|
| ¡A muerte! |
Full effort! |
“to the death” |
| ¡Vamos campeón / campeona! |
Let’s go champ! |
|
| ¡Tira con huevos! |
Pull hard! |
vulgar but very common in Spain |
| ¡Crúzate! |
Cross! |
|
| ¡Bloquea! |
Lock it off! |
|
| ¡Salta! |
Jump / dyno! |
|
Knots (Nudos)
| Spanish |
English |
Notes |
| nudo |
knot |
|
| nudo de ocho / ocho |
figure-eight |
|
| ocho doble / ocho de seguimiento |
figure-eight follow-through |
the tie-in knot |
| nudo de nueve |
figure-nine |
|
| as de guía |
bowline |
|
| ballestrinque / nudo dinámico |
clove hitch |
|
| nudo italiano / dinámico |
Munter hitch / Italian hitch |
UIAA hitch |
| nudo prusik |
prusik knot |
|
| machard / prusik francés |
French prusik / autoblock |
|
| klemheist |
klemheist |
|
| nudo de cinta |
water knot / tape knot |
|
| pescador doble |
double fisherman’s |
|
| nudo simple |
overhand knot |
|
| nudo de tope / nudo de seguridad |
stopper knot / backup knot |
|
| gaza / lazada |
loop / bight |
|
Grades (Grados)
| Spanish |
English |
Notes |
| grado |
grade |
|
| vía |
route |
|
| largo |
pitch |
also length |
| vía de varios largos |
multi-pitch route |
|
| bloque / búlder |
boulder problem |
|
| escalada deportiva |
sport climbing |
|
| escalada clásica / tradicional / trad |
trad climbing |
|
| escalada artificial |
aid climbing |
|
| escalada en hielo |
ice climbing |
|
| escalada en placa |
slab climbing |
|
| escalada en desplome |
overhang climbing |
|
| primera repetición |
first repeat |
|
| primera ascensión |
first ascent (FA) |
|
| equipador |
route setter / bolter |
the person who bolted it |
Rope Management & Roles (Manejo de Cuerda y Roles)
| Spanish |
English |
Notes |
| escalador / escaladora |
climber |
|
| asegurador / aseguradora |
belayer |
|
| primero / ir de primero |
leader / to lead |
“go first” |
| segundo / ir de segundo |
second / follow |
|
| cordada |
rope team / partnership |
|
| compañero de cordada |
climbing partner |
|
| encordarse |
to tie in |
|
| encordado |
tied in |
|
| atarse a la cuerda |
to tie into the rope |
|
| puntos de encordamiento |
tie-in points |
|
| en polea / top rope |
top rope |
|
| polea |
top rope (the setup) |
|
| chapar |
to clip |
|
| chapada en Z |
Z-clip |
|
| chapada al revés / back-clip |
back-clip |
dangerous! |
| rozamiento |
rope drag |
|
| estirar / extender la cuerda |
to flake the rope |
|
| recoger la cuerda |
to coil the rope / pull rope in |
|
| plegado en mariposa |
butterfly coil |
|
| montar reunión |
to build the anchor |
|
| limpiar (la vía) |
to clean the route |
retrieve gear at the top |
| recoger |
to clean / strip |
also “take in rope” — context |
| pasar la cuerda (por la cadena) |
to thread the rope |
through the chains |
| rapelar / hacer rápel |
to rappel / abseil |
|
| rápel |
rappel / abseil |
|
| descender / bajar |
to lower / descend |
|
| descenso |
the descent |
|
| parar una caída |
to catch a fall |
|
| asegurar suave |
to give a soft catch |
|
| factor de caída |
fall factor |
|
| segurísimo / chapas nuevas |
well-bolted / new bolts |
bomber bolts |
| equipamiento dudoso |
sketchy gear / runout |
|
| corrido / muy corrido |
runout |
long distance between bolts |
| abandonar / bajarse |
to bail |
retreat |