Rock climbing terms: English-Spanish

Abseil - rappel
The process by which a climber may descend on a fixed rope.

Anchor seguro o reunin.

Bolts along the route or at the top to fix rope to.

(to) Belay - asegurar

To protect a climber from falling by using a belay device and a rope.

Belay device mechanismo para asegurar

A mechanical device used when belaying. Many types of belay device exist:
Stitch plate -

ATC - tubo de freno/placa de aseguramiento

placa
GriGri - grigri
A belay device designed to be
easy to use and safe for beginners
because it is self-locking under load.

Bolt chapa (spits, parabolts)

An anchor-point permanently drilled into the rock.

Bouldering bouldering o escalada en bloques

The practice of climbing on large boulders. Typically this is close to the ground, so
protection takes the form of crash pads and spotting instead of belay ropes.

Carabiner - mosquetn
Metal rings with spring-loaded gates, used as connectors.
Also known as crab or biner.

Locking carabiner
A carabiner with a locking gate, to prevent
accidental release of the rope.

Chalk (liquid or powder) magnesio (liquido o en polvo)

A compound used to improve grip by absorbing sweat.

Chalk bag bolsa de magnesio

A hand-sized holder for a climber's chalk that is usually clipped or tied onto the
climber's harness for easy access during a climb.

Climbing area zona de escalada

A region that is plentiful with climbing routes.

Climbing command frases de escalada

A short phrase used for communication between a climber and
a belayer (person who belays).

Climbing route via de escalada

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Climbing shoe pies de gato o gatos

Footwear designed specifically for climbing. Usually well fitting, with a rubber sole.

Climbing technique tecnicas de escalada

Particular techniques, or moves, commonly applied in climbing.

Clipping in - chapando
The process of attaching to belay lines or quickdraws for protection.

Crack Climbing escalar por la grieta

To ascend on a rock face by wedging body parts into cracks.

Dyno un movimiento dinmico

A dynamic move to grab a hold that would otherwise be out of reach.
Non-climbers might call this a lunge.

Fall - cada
Undesirable downward motion which is stopped by the rope.

(to) Follow ir de segundo

Go after the lead climber on toprope

Grade - grado
Intended as an objective measure of the technical difficultly of a particular climbing
route, but is actually subjective. Grade 4 (easy); Grade 5 (do-able); 6a (getting harder)

Harness - arns
Climbing equipment used for attaching a rope to a person.

Helmet - casco
Hold presa

foothold
handhold

presa para el pie

- presa para la mano

Indoor climbing wall roccdromo

Knots - nudos
Climbers rely on many different knots for anchoring oneself to a mountain, joining
two ropes together, slings for climbing up the rope, etc.
Double figure of eight knot
un ocho

Lead climbing escalar de primero(a)

Where the climber places quickdraws
and attaches the belay rope as they climb.

(to) Lead ir de primero

Multi-pitch climbing escalada de
varios largos
Climbing on routes that are too long
for a single belay rope.

On-sight a vista
A clean ascent, with no prior practice.
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Overhang - techo
A section of rock or ice that is angled beyond vertical. See roof.

Prusik
1. A knot used for ascending a rope.
2. A knot providing safety when abseiling/rappeling.

Quickdraw cinta express o express

Used to attach a freely running rope to anchors or bolts. Sometimes called quickies.

Roof - techo
Horizontal overhang.

Rope - cuerda
An essential item of climbing equipment (usually 50, 60 or 70m long).

Second la persona que va de segundo

A climber who follows the lead, or first, climber.

Single-pitch climbing escalada de un largo

Usually shorter climbs from 15m to 30m long, covered by one rope.

Sling - cinta
Webbing sewn, or tied, into a loop.

Smearing/to smear hacer adherencia

To use friction on the sole of the climbing shoe, when there are no useful footholds.

Solo climbing escalar sin cuerda

Climbing without any protection or rope.

Sport climbing escalada deportiva (as opposed to traditional climbing)

A form of climbing where grace and technical (or gymnastic) ability are considered
important. Sport routes are bolted.

Spotting - portear
A friend of the climber stands beneath them and prevents awkward falls. Used during
bouldering, or when the climber has not yet clipped into the first anchor (bolt).

Top rope en pola

To belay from a fixed anchor point above the climb.

Traverse
1. To climb in a horizontal direction.

Webbing
Hollow and flat rope, mainly used to make slings.

Adapted from website. See:

http://www.tradgirl.com/climbing_faq/translations/spanish.htm
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Basic Climbing Commands

When you start
Can you belay me?
Okay!

Me puedes asegurar?
Vale!

Lets check

Comprobamos

Belayer:
Climb when ready

Cuando quieras

Climber:
Climbing

Voy

While climbing
Climber:
Slack! (give me slack)
Give me rope

(Damme) cuerda

More slack

ms suelta

Take in!
Take in!

tensa
pillame!

I want to rest on the rope

quiero descansar con la cuerda

(Im) Clipping in

chapo

Watch me
(Im going to fall)

Atento! Vigila!
(me voy a caer)

Belayer:
Wait!
The ropes tangled

Espere!
la cuerda est enredada

Get your arm over the rope

Get your leg over the rope

Pon tu brazo encima de la cuerda

Pon tu pierna encima de la cuerda

Ropes twisted

la cuerda est torcida

Encouragement
You can do it!

Puedes!

Get your feet up!

Suba los pies!

Theres a good hold

to your right

Hay buena presa a tu derecha

To your right
To your left

Por la derecha
Por la izquierda

Right a bit
Left a bit

Un poco ms a la derecha
Un poco ms a la izquierda

Theres a foothold
by your knee

Hay presa para tu pie

a la altura de tu rodilla

Good!

Muy bien!

- make rope tenser

- take my weight on the rope

Note: apparently there arent enough swear words (palabrotas) in the Spanish translation
sorry!
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More Climbing Commands

At the top of the route
Lead climber:
Once you have reached the top and clipped in to one of the
two rings with your lifeline (cinta de vida):
Safe!

Runion

The belayer can then give a little slack. If the climber is passing
the rope through the rings, they shout:
(Im going to put the rope through) (voy a pasar la cuerda)
Give me rope!
damme cuerda
The belayer shouts:
OK!

vale

And gives the climber 2 or 3 metres of rope.

The lead climber ties an overhand knot in the rope and secures it to their harness with a
locking carabiner. Then they untie their figure of eight knot and pass the rope through the two
rings (anillos), then retie themselves on with a figure of eight. They unclip the carabiner with
the overhand knot and undo this knot then shout:
take in

pillame

They wait then when it feels tight, shout down to check:

Have you got me?

me tienes?

Belayer shouts up:

Ive got you!

Te tengo!

Both belayer and climber can double-check with a thumbs up or

shouting: ok, ready to come down/listo para bajar bringing you down/te bajo

Multi-pitch climbing
Communication is important, especially on multi-pitch climbs or other situations where you
cant see each other or hear each other well.
When doing multi-pitch its important that your partner knows whether they are safe to climb
or not. Remember these calls:
on belay

estas asegurado/ya puedes ir

Ive got you

te tengo

Safe/ take me off belay

estoy seguro

belay off

sin seguro/estas suelto

off rappel

ya puedes bajar/listo, baja!

Useful Sentences
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What is the name of this route? Como se llama esta via?

What is this route rated? De que grado es esta via?
Does this route have fixed anchors? Tiene seguros fijos esta via?
Do I need a 60 meter rope for this route? Necesito una cuerda de sesenta metros para esta
via?
Do I need two ropes to rappel (abseil) this route? Necesito dos cuerdas para rapelar esta
via?
How many pitches does this route have? De cuantos largos es esta via?
Do I need trad gear to lead this route? Necesito material para asegurar esta via?
How many bolts does this route have? Cuantas chapas hay en esta via?
Are you done with this route? Habeis acabado con esta via?
Can you spot me? Puedes ampararme?
Can you belay me? Puedes asegurarme?
Can you belay with (device x)? Sabes asegurar con un (device x)?