Definition
The regular rise and fall of the sea, caused by the pull of the moon and sun. Also used figuratively to mean a powerful wave or flood of something.
Example
La marea subió y cubrió las rocas de la playa.
Show translation
The tide came in and covered the rocks on the beach.
Etymology
From Old Spanish *marea*, derived from *mar* ("sea"), which comes from Latin *mare* ("sea"). The suffix *-ea* likely evolved through analogy with other natural phenomena nouns. Cognates appear across Romance languages: Portuguese *maré*, Italian *marea*, French *marée*.
Cultural note
Spain's long coastlines — from the Atlantic shores of Galicia and the Basque Country to the Mediterranean — make *marea* part of everyday coastal life. The phrase **"contra viento y marea"** (against wind and tide) is a very common Spanish idiom meaning to persist despite all obstacles, equivalent to English "come hell or high water." In figurative speech, *una marea de gente* (a tide of people) vividly describes a crowd surging forward.