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"Height" is a noun which is often translated as "la altura", and "high" is an adjective which is often translated as "alto". Learn more about the difference between "height" and "high" below.
height()
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
noun
a. la altura
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(F)
The ladder reaches a height of ten feet.La escalera alcanza una altura de diez pies.
b. la estatura
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(F)
(person)
I'm not sure of his exact height, but he looks really tall.No sé cuál es su estatura exacta pero se ve muy alto.
c. el altitud
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
(above sea level)
The plane is flying at a height of 39,000 feet.El avión está volando a una altitud de 39,000 pies.
a. la cima
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(F)
Our president is at the height of his political career.Nuestro presidente está en la cima de su carrera política.
a. el colmo
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
The magazine reached the height of madness with this article.La revista llegó al colmo de la locura con este artículo.
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high()
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
adjective
a. alto
A high fence surrounded the vegetable garden.Una cerca alta rodeaba el huerto.
b. gran
The airplane lost cabin pressure while flying at a high altitude.La cabina del avión se despresurizó mientras volaba a gran altura.
c. crecido (river)
The river was very high after three days of rain.El río estaba muy crecido después de tres días de lluvia.
d. amplio (forehead)
Patrick is self-conscious about his high forehead.Patrick está acomplejado por su frente amplia.
e. saliente (cheekbones)
Erica has high cheekbones and a strong jaw.Erica tiene pómulos salientes y una mandíbula pronunciada.
a. alto
Their prices are the highest in town.Sus precios son los más altos de la ciudad.
b. elevado
Our sources say the number of casualties is high.Nuestras fuentes indican que el número de víctimas es elevado.
c. rico (in nutrients)
Pumpkin seeds are high in iron.Las semillas de calabaza son ricas en hierro.
a. alto
The doctor told him to cut back on salt due to his high blood pressure.El médico le dijo que consumiera menos sal porque tenía la presión alta.
b. fuerte
The meteorological service has issued a high wind warning.El servicio meteorológico ha emitido un aviso de vientos fuertes.
c. grande
The car went past at a high speed.El carro pasó a gran velocidad.
a. de alto
The wall is six feet high.La pared mide seis pies de alto.
b. de altura
The diver jumped from a bridge 25 meters high.El clavadista saltó desde un puente de 25 metros de altura.
5.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(on drugs)
a. drogado
I'll drive because you're still high.Manejo yo porque tú todavía estás drogado.
b. colocado
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(River Plate)
Regionalism used in Spain
(Spain)
Everyone was high at the party on Saturday.Todos estaban colocados en la fiesta del sábado.
c. pacheco
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Regionalism used in Ecuador
(Ecuador)
Regionalism used in Mexico
(Mexico)
Regionalism used in Venezuela
(Venezuela)
Why is John talking like that? - Because he's high.¿Por qué habla John así? - Porque está pacheco.
d. volado
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Regionalism used in Cuba
(Cuba)
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
(South America)
No wonder you're high. You were smoking joints all evening.No me extraña que estés volado. Estuviste fumando porros toda la noche.
e. trabado
Regionalism used in Colombia
(Colombia)
Regionalism used in Honduras
(Honduras)
Mary is really funny when she's high.Mary es muy graciosa cuando está trabada.
a. alto
When he retired, his coworkers told him he'd always be held in high esteem.Cuando se jubiló, sus compañeros de trabajo le dijeron que siempre lo tendrían en alta estima.
b. muy bueno
I get the feeling the reporter doesn't have a very high regard of the person she's interviewing.Me da la impresión de que la reportera no tiene un muy buen concepto de la persona que está entrevistando.
a. eufórico
She felt high after selling her company for ten million dollars.Estaba eufórica después de vender su empresa por diez millones de dólares.
a. alto
A UN high official will give the opening address.Un alto funcionario de la ONU dará el discurso de apertura.
a. agudo (note)
It is harder for Eric to sing the high notes than it is for Jessica.Para Eric es más difícil cantar las notas agudas que para Jessica.
b. alto (note)
I want to hear the opera singer sing a high note live.Quiero escuchar a la cantante de ópera cantar una nota alta en vivo.
a. elevado
Heather got divorced because her husband didn't live up to her high ideals.Heather se divorció porque su esposo no cumplía con sus ideales elevados.
a. pasado
Randolph prefers to eat wild pheasant that is high.Randolph prefiere comer el faisán silvestre que está pasado.
a. culminante
The high point of the story was so shocking it was like being doused in ice water.