Top & pass names

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Last update:  07-Mar-2004

In most languages of Europe there exists more words for passes, mountains, tops and ridges. In Holland we have only a few words in this area but our highest 'mountain' is just 321m (Vaalserberg in province Limburg). Especially in France there exists many words for passes (fr:cols), if you also count the words in different dialects and old-french languages. Here is a overview of frequently used words related to mountains in 5 main languages and some smaller languages.

If you know other words or can solve the question marks (?) in the blue cells please contact me. I also like to know the if the next words have a special meaning:
French: Truc, Suc
German: Bichl, Bü(h)el, Eck, Egg, Gscheid
Italian: Arcu (Sardinia), Genna (Sardinia), Goletto

  French (Francais) German (Deutsch) Italian (Italian) Spanish (Espanol) Portuguese (Português)
    <Romans(c)h (Rumantsch)> <Ladin> <Catalan,Basque>  
 sm. = small, reg. = regional  

Pass

         
Most common Col, Collet (sm.) Pass Passo, Colle, Colla Collado, Collada  
    Pass, Cuolmen <Rom.>   Coll <Cat.>, Mendetea, Lepoa <Bas.>  
Gate Port, Porteille [Pyr.] Tor,Törl (sm.)   Puerto, Portillo, Portella Portela, Paso?
        Port(ell) <Cat.>  
Height of top Côte Höhe Valico, Culmine Alto, Alta Alto, Alta, Altura
        Alt <Cat.>, Gain(a) <Bas.>  
Special shape Baisse [subsidence,sag] Sattel [saddle] Sela <Lad.>, Sella [saddle]    
  Hourquette (~fourche,Pyr.) [fork] Joch, Jöchl (sm) [yoke] Ju, Jëuf <Lad.>, Giogo [yoke]    
  Brèche [breach] Scharte [breach,slit] Forcella, Forca [fork]    
  Bocca [Corsica, mouth] Eck [corner], Gscheid [rupture] Foce [mouth], Bocchetta [mouthpiece]   Boca [Madeira, mouth/entrance]
Special/Regional Cormet [Savoie] Egg [Sw/Au,Eck?] Genna, Arcu [Sardinia] Degollada [Canary Islands]  
    Bü(h)el [Sw,hill], Bichl? Goletto [1x,shape?]    
           
           

(Mountain) top

         
Mountain Mont Berg Monte, Montagna Monte, Montaña Monte, Montanha
        Mont <Cat.>  
Mountains, Massif, Range Montagne, Massif Gebirge, Gruppe Monti, Montagna, Gruppo Montaña, Sierra, Montes Serra
        Muntanya, Serra(t) <Cat.>, Mendi, Mendilerroa <Bas.>  
Chain Chaine Kette Catena Cordillera Cadeia
Hill, Hillock Colline Hügel Collina, Colle, Poggio, Costa Collina, Cerro Colina, Cerro, Outeiro, Morro, Monte, Poio
Ridge, Crest Crete Kamm Cresta Cresta, Serrania, Loma, Cuerda [rope] Serrania, Cumeada
Spine (ridge)   Grat   Espinazo, Lomo Espinhaço, Lombo
Top, Summit Sommet, Cime Gipfel Cima, Vetta Cima, Cumbre, Cumbrecita Cume, Cimo, Cumeeira, Topo
        Mendigarai, Mendikasko <Bas.>  
        Cim <Cat.>  
Peak Pic, Signal, Point Spitze Picco, Pizzo, Punta Pico, Picón, Punta Pico, Ponta
    Piz [Rom.] Piz(a), Spiz <Lad.> Puig <Cat.>  
Volcano, Volcanic top Volcan, Puy [cone,Auvergne] Vulkan Vulcano Volcán, Caldera [rim] Vulcão, Caldeira [rim]
Rock (mass), Crag Roche(r), Roc Stein, Stock, Fels(en) Roccia, Rocche,Sass(o), Masso Peña, Roca, Roque Penha, Rocha, Rochedo, Fraga, Penedo
      Sas <Lad.> Roc <Cat.>  
Shape Head Tête Kopf Testa Cabeza, Cap? <Cat.> Cabeço/-a
Shape Ball, Bullit Ballon [Vosges] Kog(e)l Palla    
Other shape Dent [tooth] Wand, Kof(e)l [wall] Croda [wall] Cordal [finger], Mojón [heap] Cântaro [vase]
  Aiguille [needle] Horn [horn] Corno [horn] Turó [tower] <Cat.> Torre [tower,1x]
        Cueto/-u?, Braña?  
Special/Regional Crêt [Jura] Lizum [Austria], Egg Bruncu [Sardinia]    
  Suc [Massif C.], Truc?   Dos(so) [Dolomites]    
      Toppa/-o, Timpa/Tempa, Cimone [around Napoli]    
           

Routes

         
Valley Vallée, Vallon, Val, Combe (dry) Tal(strasse) Valle, Val, Vallone Valle, Cuenca, Hoya, Vall <Cat.> Vale, Covão (dry?)
Gorge Gorges Schlucht, Klamm Gola, Garganta Garganta, Barranco, Congosto? Garganta
      Torrente Torrent [Mallorca]  
High route Corniche, Balcons Höheweg, -strasse      
Wall (steep short climb) Mur Mauer Muro Cerca, Muro Muro
Slope, Hill, Ramp Côte, Rampe Steilhang, Lehne, Neigung Salita, Erta Cuesta, Rampa Encosta, Rampa
           

Other

         
Plain, Plateau Plateau, Plan, Pla, Plagne Platte, ((Hoch)ebene) (Alto)piano, Piàn, Pianura Llanura, Llanada, Llano, Plan Planalto, Planura, Chã(o), Achada [sm.,Madeira]
  Causse [lime,Massif central]     Meseta, Pla <Cat.>  
Meadow, Pasture Pré, Pâturage, Pra? Wiese Prato, Praz? Pradeño, Prado, Pradera Prado
Meadow in the Alps Alpe Alp(e), Alm Alpe    
      Mont, Munt <Lad.>    
Field Champ Feld Campo Campo Campo
Viewpoint Belvédère, Point de Vue, Balcons [balcony] Aussichtspunkt Punto di vista Mirador Miradouro, Balcões [balcony]
Glacier Glacier Gletscher, Ferner Ghiacciaio Glaciar, Helero Glaciar
Lake Lac See, Lai [Romansch] Lago Lago, Laguna (sm), Llac <Cat.> Lago, Laca
Reservoir (Lake) Lac artificiel Stausee Lago Artificiale Embalse, Urtegia <Bas.> Barragem
Barrage, Dam (Lake,River) Barage Staudamm, -mauer Diga (di sbarramento) Presa, Pressa <Cat.> Barragem
Source, Well (Water) Source Quelle, Brunnen Sorgente, Pozzo Fuente, Pozo Fonte, Bica (sm), Poço
Refuge, Hut, Shed Refuge, Chalet, Cabane, Baraque Hütte Rifugio, Capanne, Baita, Malga Refugio, Cabaña, Choza Refúgio, Chalé
      Utia, Ütia <Lad.> Refugi <Cat.>  
Special Cirque [cirque]