montaña rusa

Spanish

Etymology

Literally, “Russian mountain”, a singular calque of French montagnes russes, which see for more.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /monˌtaɲa ˈrusa/ [mõn̪ˌt̪a.ɲa ˈru.sa]
• Syllabification: mon‧ta‧ña ru‧sa
• Rhymes: -usa

Noun

montaña rusa f (plural montañas rusas)

1. rollercoaster
   • 2005, Jill Norris, Spanish/English Read & Understand, Grade 1, page 241:

     Chela gritó, “¡Vamos a la montaña rusa! ¡Qué divertido!

     Chela screamed, "Let's go to the rollercoaster! How fun!

2. (figurative) rollercoaster
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see montaña,‎ ruso.

Further reading

• “montaña rusa”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10