Waterfall: cascada vs. catarata

Question

What is the difference between cascada and catarata as translations for the English "waterfall"? Are they synonyms, or is there a difference?

you have the word cataract in English as well. Cataract, a large, powerful waterfall http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cataract_(disambiguation) — Elzo Valugi, Jan 19 '12 at 09:45

score 11 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 16 '12 at 16:02

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In some way are synonyms, but catarata is used for big waterfalls. Of course, this is a subjective difference. For a waterfall in a little creek you say cascada for sure, but not catarata. And, for example, the translation of:

Niagara Falls → Cataratas del Niágara

¿Son las cataratas del Niágara cascadas? Sí.

edited Feb 16 '12 at 16:02

Alfredo Osorio

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answered Jan 17 '12 at 21:22

Ricardo

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+1. Exactly what RAE says. Catarata = cascada o salto grande de agua. So cascada is any waterfall, whereas catarata are big ones (Niagara, Iguazú, Victoria...) – MikMik Jan 18 '12 at 07:01

score 3 · Answer 2 · edited Dec 07 '12 at 03:35

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Catarata refers to a large, rushing MASS of falling water. Cascada refers to a more gentle falling of water, usually broken up into smaller units called "waterfalls."

edited Dec 07 '12 at 03:35

jachguate

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answered Jan 28 '12 at 23:05

Tom Au

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score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 19 '12 at 16:12

What passes for a waterfall can be classified into many different subtypes, not just casacadas y cataradas.

One doesn’t usually think of a “rapid” as one, but in a way it is. Indeed, Wikipedia mentions that:

Una rápida es una característica hidrológica entre una corrida (una parte fluida de un arroyo) y una cascada.

Don’t confuse corridas de agua with corridas de toros, though. :)

score -1 · Answer 4 · edited Mar 12 '12 at 13:26

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Cascada is the prefered form in Spain, and catarata, the one in Latin America.

edited Mar 12 '12 at 13:26

César

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answered Mar 07 '12 at 14:18

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I don't agree. I'm from Spain and I use and hear "catarata" for big waterfalls like "Cataratas de Iguazú", "Cataratas del Niágara" or "Cataratas Victoria". – Javi Mar 07 '12 at 16:20
Good call. But as for small, "anonymous" waterfalls, and in my experience, my point stands. – deprecated Mar 07 '12 at 16:33

Waterfall: cascada vs. catarata

4 Answers4