🏖️ Beaches
In this section, you'll learn useful Spanish vocabulary and everyday expressions for talking about the beach, the ocean, swimming, summer activities, and spending a day by the sea.
🟢 Basic Beach Vocabulary
🏖️ Beach → Playa
🌊 Wave → Ola
☀️ Sun → Sol
🏝️ Island → Isla
🏄 Surfboard → Tabla de surf
🩴 Sandals → Sandalias
🟡 Ocean & Summer Vocabulary
🌊 Sea → Mar
🧴 Sunscreen → Protector solar
🏐 Beach volleyball → Vóleibol de playa
🐚 Shell → Concha
🌴 Palm tree → Palmera
🩱 Swimsuit → Traje de baño
🔵 Beach & Ocean Activities
🏊 To swim → Nadar
🏄 To surf → Surfear / Hacer surf
☀️ To sunbathe → Tomar el sol
🧴 To put on sunscreen → Ponerse protector solar
🏐 To play beach volleyball → Jugar al vóleibol de playa
🐚 To collect shells → Recoger conchas
🧠 Talking About the Beach and Ocean
💡 Use ir a la playa to talk about going to the beach.
Vamos a la playa mañana.
We're going to the beach tomorrow.
Mis amigos van a la playa los fines de semana.
My friends go to the beach on weekends.
Vamos a la playa mañana.
We're going to the beach tomorrow.
Mis amigos van a la playa los fines de semana.
My friends go to the beach on weekends.
💡 Use hacer to describe certain weather conditions, including hot and sunny beach days.
Hoy hace mucho calor.
It's very hot today.
Hace buen tiempo para ir a la playa.
The weather is nice for going to the beach.
Hoy hace mucho calor.
It's very hot today.
Hace buen tiempo para ir a la playa.
The weather is nice for going to the beach.
💡 Use gustar + infinitive to talk about beach and ocean activities you enjoy.
Me gusta nadar en el mar.
I like swimming in the sea.
Nos gusta caminar por la playa al atardecer.
We like walking along the beach at sunset.
Me gusta nadar en el mar.
I like swimming in the sea.
Nos gusta caminar por la playa al atardecer.
We like walking along the beach at sunset.
❓ Useful Beach & Ocean Questions
🏖️ ¿Dónde está la playa más cercana?
Where is the nearest beach?
Where is the nearest beach?
🏊 ¿Se puede nadar aquí?
Can you swim here?
Can you swim here?
🌊 ¿Cómo están las olas hoy?
How are the waves today?
How are the waves today?
🧴 ¿Trajiste protector solar?
Did you bring sunscreen?
Did you bring sunscreen?
💬 Common Beach Phrases
🏖️ Vamos a pasar el día en una playa que está cerca de aquí.
We're going to spend the day at a beach that's close to here.
We're going to spend the day at a beach that's close to here.
☀️ Hace tanto calor que voy a buscar un lugar a la sombra.
It's so hot that I'm going to look for a place in the shade.
It's so hot that I'm going to look for a place in the shade.
🏊 El agua está perfecta para darse un baño.
The water is perfect for going for a swim.
The water is perfect for going for a swim.
🧴 No olvides ponerte protector solar antes de salir al sol.
Don't forget to put on sunscreen before going out in the sun.
Don't forget to put on sunscreen before going out in the sun.
💬 Everyday Conversations
Planning a day at the beach
A: ¿Qué te parece si vamos a la playa mañana por la mañana?
B: Me parece bien. Podemos llevar algo de comer y pasar allí todo el día.
A: How about going to the beach tomorrow morning?
B: Sounds good. We can bring something to eat and spend the whole day there.
A: ¿Qué te parece si vamos a la playa mañana por la mañana?
B: Me parece bien. Podemos llevar algo de comer y pasar allí todo el día.
A: How about going to the beach tomorrow morning?
B: Sounds good. We can bring something to eat and spend the whole day there.
Getting ready to swim
A: ¿Vas a meterte en el agua?
B: Sí, pero primero voy a ponerme protector solar.
A: Are you going to get in the water?
B: Yes, but first I'm going to put on sunscreen.
A: ¿Vas a meterte en el agua?
B: Sí, pero primero voy a ponerme protector solar.
A: Are you going to get in the water?
B: Yes, but first I'm going to put on sunscreen.
📝 Example Sentences
🌊 Las olas estaban bastante altas, así que nos quedamos cerca de la orilla.
The waves were quite high, so we stayed close to the shore.
The waves were quite high, so we stayed close to the shore.
🌴 Encontramos un sitio tranquilo bajo las palmeras para descansar del sol.
We found a quiet spot under the palm trees to take a break from the sun.
We found a quiet spot under the palm trees to take a break from the sun.
🏄 Mi hermano se levanta temprano para hacer surf cuando hay buenas olas.
My brother gets up early to surf when there are good waves.
My brother gets up early to surf when there are good waves.
🐚 Los niños encontraron varias conchas mientras caminaban por la orilla.
The children found several shells while walking along the shore.
The children found several shells while walking along the shore.
🏐 Después de nadar, jugamos un partido de vóleibol de playa con unos amigos.
After swimming, we played a game of beach volleyball with some friends.
After swimming, we played a game of beach volleyball with some friends.
🌅 Nos quedamos junto al mar hasta que el sol empezó a ponerse.
We stayed by the sea until the sun began to set.
We stayed by the sea until the sun began to set.
🏆 Final Practice
Try saying each phrase before pressing play.
- ¿Dónde está la playa más cercana?
- Vamos a pasar el día en la playa.
- Me gusta nadar en el mar.
- ¿Cómo están las olas hoy?
- No olvides ponerte protector solar.
- Nos gusta caminar por la playa al atardecer.