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"Onda" is a noun which is often translated as "ripple", and "ola" is a noun which is often translated as "wave". Learn more about the difference between "onda" and "ola" below.
la onda(
ohn
-
dah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. wave
Las ondas de radio y las ondas de los rayos X tienen frecuencias distintas.Radio waves and X-ray waves have different frequencies.
a. wave
Le encantaba ver cómo el aire jugaba con las ondas de su cabello.He loved to see how the air played with the waves in her hair.
4. (colloquial) (sensation) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. vibe
En esta oficina hay mala onda, ¿verdad? - Sí, la gente le tiene mucho miedo al jefe.There's a bad vibe in this office, isn't there? - Yes, people are very afraid of the boss.
5. (colloquial) (meaning or hint)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¿Me explicas otra vez este teorema, por favor? - No consigo agarrarle la onda.Can you explain this theorem again, please? - I can't get the hang of it.
Se lo he insinuado varias veces, pero no capta la onda.I've hinted at it several times, but he's not getting the message.
la ola(
oh
-
lah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
2. (abundance)
a. wave
Hubo una ola de atracos cuando despidieron a los guardias.There was a wave of robberies when the guards were fired.
3. (weather)
a. front
Una ola de frío bajó del noroeste del país.A cold front moved down from the northwest of the country.
4. (medicine)
a. outbreak
Hubo una ola del virus ébola en la capital el mes pasado.There was an Ebola outbreak in the capital last month.
