Rock Climbing vocab in Spanish
May 18, 2026 · Jerome Gill
I live in spain, and often forget very specific and coloquial words for things when climbing with spanish friends. This can range from annoying, when I don’t understand beta or move sequences people are describing to me, to problematic when there is a situation that needs solving.
I’ve been using Anki to improve my spanish lately, and it’s going well. A friend mentioned about building his own deck of construction related vocab, so I thought it would be good for me to solidify some of the niche vocab I use in climbing.
I couldn’t find anything particularly complete online so had a go with mistral’s lechat research mode.
The following prompt complied this list from about 15 sources which is much more complete than anything I found on google.
Provide a complete list of climbing vocabulary in spanish with english translations in markdown format
Include;
rock features (crimp, jug, corner/dihedral, arete, etc)
techniques (flag, drop knee, cross through etc)
equipment (sport and trad, crabiner, quickdraw do not worry about alpine or ice etc)
Useful phrases (knots, grades, encouramgent, rope management, etc)
I think generally research tasks by LLMs are worth publishing so they can get indexed by search engines, if they are accurate and useful. The problem is that these produced by mistral aren’t great. There’s a bunch of things here, techniques especially, climbers would never say.
Unfortunately. Mistral continues to disappoint as someone who would value decoupling from US based tech where possible, given the current situation.
I decided to run the same prompt again using claude. The results were a big step up.
I’m going to manually clean up the list and get some friends to contribute translations. Once I’ve done that, next step is to get it into an anki format. Then I’ll make a little climbing vocab app.
Mistral
🧗 Rock Features
Rock features are the physical characteristics of the climbing surface that climbers interact with. Understanding these terms in Spanish is fundamental for route description, beta sharing, and climbing communication.
| English |
Spanish |
Description |
| Crimp |
Regleta |
Small edge for fingertips. |
| Jug |
Cazo / Presa grande |
Large, deep hold. |
| Corner/Dihedral |
Diedro |
Inside corner where two rock planes meet. |
| Arete |
Arista / Canto |
Edge or corner of a rock face. |
| Edge |
Canto |
Narrow, flat hold. |
| Sloper |
Romo / Placa lisa |
Rounded, sloping hold. |
| Pinch |
Pinza |
Hold squeezed between thumb and fingers. |
| Undercling |
Invertido |
Hold gripped from underneath. |
| Chimney |
Chimenea |
Vertical passage in the rock. |
| Slab |
Placa |
Less-than-vertical wall. |
| Overhang |
Desplome |
Rock jutting out beyond vertical. |
| Roof |
Techo |
Horizontal or near-horizontal overhang. |
| Crack |
Fisura |
Fissure in the rock. |
| Pocket |
Monodedo / Bidedo |
Small hole (1 or 2 fingers). |
| Prow |
Proa |
Pointed or protruding rock feature. |
| Ledge |
Repisa |
Flat or horizontal section of rock. |
| Traverse |
Travesía |
Horizontal movement across a face. |
| Highball |
Tsunami |
Tall boulder problem. |
| Lowball |
Chincheta |
Short boulder problem. |
🤸 Climbing Techniques
Climbing techniques describe the methods and movements climbers use to ascend rock faces. Mastery of these terms in Spanish facilitates clear communication about climbing style and strategy.
| English |
Spanish |
Description |
| Flagging |
Bandera / Bailarina |
Leg extended for balance. |
| Drop Knee |
Rodilla caída / Bicicleta |
Dropping knee to twist hips closer. |
| Cross Over |
Cruzar / Paso cruzado |
Arm crosses over to reach a hold. |
| Deadpoint |
Punto muerto |
Dynamic move to grab a hold at apex. |
| Dyno |
Dinámico |
Jumping for an out-of-reach hold. |
| Heel Hook |
Gancho de talón |
Hooking heel onto a hold. |
| Toe Hook |
Gancho de punta |
Hooking toes onto a hold. |
| Back-step |
Paso atrás |
Using outside edge of foot on a hold. |
| Campusing |
Campusing |
Climbing without using feet. |
| Chimneying |
Chimenea |
Climbing a vertical crack. |
| Stemming |
Stemming |
Pushing against opposite walls. |
| Bridging |
Puente |
Using arms/legs to bridge between holds. |
| Figure-Four |
Figura cuatro |
Leg hooked over opposite arm. |
| Figure-Nine |
Figura nueve |
Same-side leg used. |
| Finger Jam |
Bloqueo de dedos |
Jamming fingers into a crack. |
| Fist Jam |
Bloqueo de puño |
Jamming hand into a crack. |
| Foot Jam |
Bloqueo de pie |
Twisting foot into a wide crack. |
| Hand Jam |
Bloqueo de mano |
Jamming hand into a crack. |
| Knee Bar |
Barra de rodilla |
Wedging knee against a hold. |
| Chest Jam |
Bloqueo de pecho |
Jamming torso into a wide crack. |
| Arm Bar |
Barra de brazo |
Locking arm into a crack. |
| Egyptian Bridging |
Puente egipcio |
One leg in front, one behind. |
🎒 Equipment
Equipment terminology is crucial for climbers to communicate about gear, safety, and climbing setup, especially in sport and trad climbing contexts.
| English |
Spanish |
Description |
| Carabiner |
Mosquetón |
Metal loop with a gate. |
| Quickdraw |
Cinta exprés |
Pre-attached sling + carabiner. |
| Climbing Shoes |
Pies de gato / Zarpas |
Specialized rubber-soled shoes. |
| Harness |
Arnés |
Waist/leg straps for securing to a rope. |
| Helmet |
Casco |
Protective headgear. |
| Rope |
Cuerda |
Static or dynamic rope. |
| Belay Device |
Asegurador |
Device to control rope during belaying. |
| Cams |
Friends / Empotradores |
Spring-loaded devices for trad climbing. |
| Nuts |
Nuts / Chocks |
Passive protection for cracks. |
| Slings |
Cintas |
Nylon/Dyneema loops for extending gear. |
| Tricams |
Tricams |
Hybrid cam/nut devices. |
| Ball Nuts |
Ball Nuts |
For thin cracks. |
| Big Bros |
Big Bros |
Expandable tubes for wide cracks. |
| Nut Tool |
Herramienta para nuts |
Tool to remove stuck gear. |
| Cordelette |
Cordelette |
Long sling for equalizing anchors. |
| Prusik Cord |
Cordino / Cuerda Prusik |
Cord for ascending or backup knots. |
| Hexes |
Hexes |
Large passive protection. |
| Bolting Equipment |
Equipo de anclaje |
Gear for placing permanent bolts. |
💬 Useful Phrases
Effective communication on the crag requires knowledge of common climbing phrases, including commands, encouragement, and technical terms related to knots and grades.
| English |
Spanish |
Context |
| Commands |
|
|
| Give me rope! |
¡Dame cuerda! |
Asking for slack. |
| Take in! |
¡Píllame! / ¡Recoge! |
Asking belayer to take in slack. |
| I’m climbing. |
¡Voy! |
Starting or continuing a climb. |
| Climb when ready. |
Escalada, vamos. |
Belayer’s signal to start. |
| Below! / Down! |
¡Abajo! |
Warning for falling objects. |
| Lower me. |
¡Bájame! |
Request to be lowered. |
| I’m off! (falling) |
¡Me caigo! / ¡Vuelo! |
Warning that you’re falling. |
| Encouragement |
|
|
| Good luck! |
¡Buena suerte! |
General encouragement. |
| You’ve got this! |
¡Tú puedes! / ¡Vas bien! |
Motivational phrase. |
| Almost there! |
¡Casi! / ¡Ya falta poco! |
Near the top or crux. |
| Knots |
|
|
| Figure-eight knot |
Nudo de ocho |
Tie-in knot for harness. |
| Double figure-eight |
Ocho doble |
Secure tie-in knot. |
| Overhand knot |
Nudo llano / Nudo simple |
Basic knot. |
| Prusik knot |
Nudo Prusik |
Friction hitch for ascending. |
| Grades |
|
|
| Grade 4 (easy) |
Grado 4 (fácil) |
Beginner route. |
| Grade 6a (harder) |
Grado 6a |
Intermediate route. |
| Grade 9a (very hard) |
Grado 9a |
Advanced route. |
| V4 (bouldering) |
V4 / Problema V4 |
Bouldering grade. |
| Other |
|
|
| What’s the grade? |
¿Qué grado tiene? |
Asking about route difficulty. |
| Do you have a quickdraw? |
¿Tienes una cinta exprés? |
Asking for gear. |
| I need help with belay. |
Necesito ayuda para asegurar. |
Requesting assistance. |
| Let’s go climbing! |
¡Vamos a escalar! |
Invitation to climb. |
| Bolt |
Chapa |
Permanent anchor point. |
| To clip a bolt |
Chapear |
Clipping the rope into a bolt. |
| Hang on the rope |
Colgarse |
Resting on the rope. |
| Try hard! |
¡A muerte! / ¡Dale con todo! |
Encouragement to push limits. |
| I’m tired. |
Estoy cansado/a. |
Need a break. |
| I made it! |
¡Lo logré! / ¡Encadené! |
Completed the route. |
Claude
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 |
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!