cordillera de talamanca: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic, Technical (Geography, Environmental Science)
Quick answer
What does “cordillera de talamanca” mean?
A major mountain range in southern Central America, extending through southeastern Costa Rica and western Panama.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A major mountain range in southern Central America, extending through southeastern Costa Rica and western Panama.
A prominent biogeographic and geological region known for its high peaks (including Cerro Chirripó), cloud forests, and rich biodiversity; often referenced in geographical, environmental, and travel contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. Both variants treat it as a proper noun. Pronunciation differences may exist due to Spanish loanword adaptation.
Connotations
Conveys connotations of remote wilderness, biodiversity, and significant topography. In academic contexts, associated with neotropical ecology and plate tectonics.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse. Exclusively found in specific contexts like geography, travel writing about Central America, or environmental studies.
Grammar
How to Use “cordillera de talamanca” in a Sentence
[The] Cordillera de Talamanca [verb: stretches/runs/forms/is located]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cordillera de talamanca” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The route cordilleras its way through the national park. (Extremely rare/poetic use)
American English
- The trail cordilleras along the ridge. (Extremely rare/poetic use)
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- The Talamancan flora is highly endemic.
- They studied the cordilleran geology.
American English
- The Talamancan frog species is endangered.
- The cordilleran climate varies with elevation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially in contexts of eco-tourism, sustainable development, or mining concessions.
Academic
Common in geography, geology, biology, and environmental science papers discussing Central American topography, endemic species, or tectonic history.
Everyday
Very rare. Used by travellers, hikers, or nature enthusiasts with specific interest in Costa Rica/Panama.
Technical
Standard term in cartography, physical geography, and biogeography for this specific mountain system.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cordillera de talamanca”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cordillera de talamanca”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cordillera de talamanca”
- Misspelling as 'Cordillera de Talamanca' (missing one 'n'), 'Cordillera de Talamanka'. Dropping the definite article 'the' before it in English. Incorrect capitalisation of 'de'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is located in southern Central America, primarily in southeastern Costa Rica and extending into western Panama.
It is a Spanish word meaning a chain or system of mountains. It's a loanword used in English for specific mountain ranges, often in the Americas.
No. The Cordillera de Talamanca is a non-volcanic, tectonically uplifted mountain range, unlike the volcanic ranges to the north in Costa Rica.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage site (La Amistad International Park) due to its exceptional biodiversity, serving as a key biological corridor and containing many endemic species.
A major mountain range in southern Central America, extending through southeastern Costa Rica and western Panama.
Cordillera de talamanca is usually formal, academic, technical (geography, environmental science) in register.
Cordillera de talamanca: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɔːdɪˈljɛərə deɪ ˌtæləˈmæŋkə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɔːrdəlˈjɛrə deɪ ˌtɑːləˈmɑːŋkə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a long, CORD-like mountain chain (cordillera) in Costa Rica, where a llama (lla-) and a banker (manca) are hiking. 'Cord-illa-llama-banker' -> Cordillera de Talamanca.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SPINAL COLUMN or BACKBONE of the southern Central American isthmus.
Practice
Quiz
What is the Cordillera de Talamanca primarily known for?