This table of approximate translations is provided for a variety of reasons such as:
It is somewhat remedial, and very biased towards mountaineering rather than caving at the moment. However, it is being put in "as is" in the hope that it will be more useful to Expo on the site than on my hard disc in the UK ! I'm afraid that your browser will need to do tables for it to be any use at all :-(
Note: the Infomatics Commission of the Union Internationale de Spéléologie has established a Cavers' Dictionary Working Group, which should eventually build something a lot more useful than this. The current version (August 2000) is edition 6, now covering eight languages. I'll be adding some terms from this as time goes by...
| English | German | French | Spanish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abseil | Abseilung | Rappel | Rapel |
| Aid | Hilfsmittel | Aide | |
| Aiguille needle |
Nadel, Spitze | Aiguille | Aguja, Torre Rocosa, Campanario |
| Alluvium | Alluvium | Alluvion | Aluvión |
| Altitude .. of summit |
[See]höhe Berghöhe |
Altitude, Hauter Élévation de la Mont. |
Altitud Altura de Nevado |
| Arete knife edge .. |
Grat, Kamm | Arâte | Arista Cuchilla (Mex) |
| Around (other side) | Umher | Autour | |
| Ascent alpine .. first .. 1st recorded |
Beisteigung, Begehung Erstbesteigung Erst Berichtete Besteigung |
Ascension .. alpine première .. .. enregistrée |
Ascensión, Subida,Escalada .. alpina primera .. .. registrada |
| Avalanche | Lawine | Avalanche | Alud, Avalancha |
| Belay (verb) |
Sicherung Sichern |
Relais Assurer |
Asegurar |
| Bergschrund | Bergschrund, Randkluft | Rimaye | Rimaya(Méx.) |
| Bivouac | Biwak | Bivouac | Vivac |
| Blocky | Block Geröll | Désintegrable | |
| Buttress | Rippe, Pfeiler, Stutze |
Pilier | Contrafuerte(Méx.) Escalón, Repisa |
| Bypass (verb) | Umgehen | Dévier Contoureur | Desviar |
| Cable crossing | Kabel Übergang | Passage à cable | Oroya |
| Cairn | Steinmann | Cairn | Pirca |
| Camp base.. high .. |
Lager, Biwak basis .. Hochlager |
Camp .. de base .. d'altitude |
Campamento .. base .. alto |
| Canyon | Cañón | ||
| Cave | Höhle | Grotte | Cueva |
| Chimney | Kamin | Cheminée | Chimenea |
| Chockstone | Klemmblock | ||
| Circa, about | Ungefähr | Environ, à peu pres | Cerca de, Hacia |
| Cirque | Kar, Mulde | Cirque | Circo |
| Climb (verb) .. up .. down |
Klettern Besteigen Ansteigen Absteigen |
Escalade Grimper, Escalader Grimper Descendre |
Escalada Subir, Escalar Escalar Bajar |
| Climber alpinist |
Bergsteiger | Grimpeur Alpiniste |
Escalador Alpinista |
| Cloud | Wolke | Nuage | Nube |
| Col | Joch, Sattel, Scharte | Col | Collado, Cuello |
| Corner | Eck | Esquina | |
| Cornice | Wächte | Corniche | Cornisa |
| Couloir | Rinne | Couloir | Couloir |
| Crack finger-crack jam-crack off-width |
Grieta, fisura | ||
| Crest | Kamm | Crâte | Cresta |
| Crevasse | Gletscherspalte | Crevasse | Grieta, fisura |
| Cross (verb) |
Kreuz Kreuzen |
Croix Traverser |
Cruzar Atravesar |
| Descend | Absteigen | Descendre | Bajar, Descender |
| Descent | Abstieg | Descente | Bajada, Descenso |
| Detour (verb) | Umweg | Détour | Desviar |
| Dihedral | Verschneidung | Dièdre | Diedro |
| Direct | gerade | direct | Directo |
| Divide, Watershed | Scheide | Ligne de Partage des eaux |
Divisoria |
| Doline | Dolina, Kunntal | Doline | Dolina, Hoya, Jou |
| Exposed | Ausgesetzt | Exposé | Expuesto |
| Exposure | Exposition | Exposición | |
| Face | Flanke, Wand | Face | Pared, Cara |
| Fall, Peel, Lob | Caer, Desconchar (wall) - Raspar (skin), Lanzar | ||
| Firm (sound) | Fest | Solide | Sólido |
| Firn, névé | Firnfeld | Névé | Campo de Nieve |
| Fixed rope | Fixes Seil | Corde fixe | Cuerda fija, Cordino |
| Fluting | Rillenfirn, Geriefeltes Eis | Rimaye | Acanaladura |
| Fog | Nebel | Brouillard | Niebla |
| Foresummit | Vorgipfel | Sommet devant Antécima |
Antecima |
| Gendarme | Felsnadel | Gendarme | Gendarme |
| Glacier hanging .. .. tongue |
Gletscher Hänge-.. ..-Zunge |
Glacier .. suspendu Langue de .. |
Glaciar .. suspendido Lengua de .. |
| Group | Gruppe, Mannschaft | Groupe | Cadena, Sistema, Nudo, Grupo |
| Gully, Ravine | Schlucht | Canal, Cañada | |
| Hail | Hagel | Grâle | Granizo, Pedrisco |
| Handhold | Agarre | ||
| Hole | Loch | Trou | Agujero |
| Horn | Horn | Corne | Cuerno |
| Ice Cap | Eiskappe | Calotte Glacière | Calota |
| Icefall | Eisbruch | Barre des sèracs | Caida de Hielo |
| Icefield | Eisfeld | Glacier | Campo de Hielo |
| Ice plateau | Eis Plateau | Plateau Glacière | Pampa (meseta) de Hielo |
| Junction (route turns off) |
Abzweigung | Cruce, Giro | |
| Knife edge rib | Cuchilla (Méx) | ||
| Landslide Mudflow/slide |
Erdrutsch | Glissement de terrain Coulée de Boue |
Desprendimiento, Huayaco (LatAm), Derrumbe Aluvión, Huayaco (LatAm) |
| Lay away | |||
| Layback | |||
| Ledge | Felsvorsprung, brett ? |
plateforme rocheuse | Plataforma |
| Lesser | Niedriger | Moins | Menor |
| Limestone .. pavement |
Kalk Karren |
calcaire Lapies |
Caliza, Calcárea Lapiaz |
| Loose (Chossy) | Locker | Friable | Flojo, Suelto |
| Main | Haupt | Principal | Principal |
| Mantleshelf | |||
| Massif | Gebirgsmassiv, Gruppe | Massif | Macizo |
| Mist | Nebel | Brouillard | Neblina |
| Moraine | Moräne | Moraine | Morrena |
| Mountaineer | Bergsteiger | Alpiniste | Montañero, Alpinista, Pirineísta |
| Mud | Schlamm, Morast | Boue | Barro, Lodo |
| Muddy | schlammig, schmutzig | Boueux, Fangeux | Fangoso |
| Muleteer | Eseltreiber,Saumer | Mûletier | Arriero |
| Needle | Nadel | Aiguille | Aguja, Cuerno |
| On the way | Auf dem Weg | En route | En camino |
| Overhang roof .. |
Überhang |
Surplomb |
Desplome Techo |
| Pass, Saddle | Pass, Sattel | Col | Paso, Portachuelo, Collado |
| Peak (minor) |
Gipfel, Berg, Spitze Vorgipfel |
Pic, Cime, Sommet Pic secondaire |
Pico, Cumbre, Cima, Cresta Pico menor, Punta |
| Pendulum | Pendule | Péndulo | |
| Pillar | Pfeiler | Pilar | |
| Pinnacle, needle | Spitze, Felsturm | Gendarme | Pináculo, Aguja, Diente, Campanario |
| Pitch (climbing) | Seillänge | Longueur | Cordada, Largo |
| Pitch (shaft) | Schacht | Puits | Pozo |
| Plain | Ebene | Plaine | Meseta, Pampa (LatAm) |
| Plateau | Hochebene. Plateau | Plateau | Altiplano, Meseta |
| Point | Punkt | Point | Punta |
| Porter | Träger | Porteur | Porteador |
| Pothole | Schacht | Gouffre | Pozo, Sótano(Mex) |
| Rake | Rastrillo | ||
| Reconnaissance | Erkunden | Reconnaissance | Reconocimiento |
| Return trip | Rückweg | (Aller-) Retour | Viaje de Vuelta |
| Rib | Rippe | Côte | |
| Ridge | Grat, Kamm | Arâte | Arista |
| River dry/intermittent |
Fluß |
Rivière |
Río Arroyo, Rambla |
| Rock | Fels | Rocher | Roca |
| Rockfall | Steinschlag | Chute des Rochers, .. des Pierres |
Caída de Piedra |
| Roof (overhang) | Techo, Desplome | ||
| Rope | Seil | Corde | Soga, Cuerda |
| Route approximate .. new .. normal .. probable .. unknown .. Variant |
Führe, Weg aproximativer .. Neubegehung Normalweg vermutlicher .. Unbekannterweg Variante |
Voie, Route .. approximative nouvelle .. .. normal .. probable .. inconnue Variante |
Ruta .. aproximada .. nueva .. normal .. probable .. desconocida Variación, Variante |
| Scoop | Pala | ||
| Scree | Schutt, Geröll | Eboulis | Talud |
| Serac | Serac, Eisturm | Sérac | Serac |
| Sink | Sumidero | ||
| Slab | Losa | ||
| Sleet | Graupeln | Pluie Gelante | Agua Nieve |
| Snow Breakable Crust Crust Fluted .. Frozen .. Granular, Firn .. New .. Powder .. Sastrugi, Skavla Slush Sun softened .. Unbreakable crust Wind Slab |
Schnee Bruchharsch Harsch Rillenförmig Gefroren Firn Neuschnee Eiszapfen Pulverschnee Windrippung Sulz .. Schnee Brett |
Neige Neige Croûteuse Croûte .. Flûté .. Gelé .. Granulée .. Fraîche Penitente .. Poudreuse Slush de .. .. Ramollé Croûte Solide Plaque à Vent |
Nieve Costra Frágil Costra Acanalada ? .. Congelada, Helada Neviza .. Nueva Penitente Polvo Sástrugi Primavera Costra Irrompile |
| Snowline permanent .. |
Schneegrenze Ewigen Schnees |
Limite des Neiges Limite des Neiges Perpetuelles |
Línea de Nieve Límite de las Nieves Perpetuas |
| Spire | Spitze, Turm | Pointe | Aguja |
| Spur | Rippe | Éperon | Espolón |
| Stance | Standplatz ? | Posición | |
| Steep | steil | raide, escarpe | Escarpado, Abrupto |
| Stone | Stein | Pierre | Piedra |
| Stonefall | Steinschlag | Chutes des Pierres | Caída de piedras |
| Talus | Schuttkegel | Talus | Talud |
| Thread (runner) | |||
| Thunderstorm lightning thunder |
Gewitter Blitz Donner |
Orage Foudre, éclairs Tonnerre |
Tormenta de truenos Relámpago Trueno |
| Torque (verb) | |||
| Traverse (verb) | Überschreitung | Traverser | Atravesar |
| Unclimbed peak | Unbestiegener Gipfel | Cime Vierge | Cima Virgen |
| Verglas | Glasseis, Verglasst | Verglas | |
| Vertical | Senkrecht | Vertical | |
| via, by way of | Über | Via | Por La Via |
| Wall | Wand | Mur | Muro, Pared |
| Waterfall | Wasserfall | Chute d'eau, Cascade | Cascada, Salto, Catarata, Chorera (LatAm) |
| Weather .. forecast good.. bad.. |
Wetter Wetterbericht Wettervorhersage |
Temps bulletin météorologique previsions mét..s, Météo beau .. mauvais .. |
Tiempo .. predicción bueno.. malo.. |
| Wedge, jam (verb) | Klemmen | Cuña | |
| Wind, windy | Wind, windig | Vente, venteux | Viento, Ventoso |
| Equipment: | |||
| Altimeter | Aneroid | Altimetre | Altímetro |
| Ascender | Steigbugel, Steigklemme |
Ascendeur, Bloqueur, Jumar |
Bloqueador |
| Bolt | Bolzen | Spit, Piton Gollo | Spit (de expansion) |
| Bolt/anchor/hanger | Bohrhaken | Amarrage | Anclaje |
| Boots | Bergschuhe | Chaussures de Montagne | Botas de montaña |
| Carabiner | Karabiner | Mousqueton | Mosquetón |
| Chalk | Magnesio | ||
| Chalkbag | Bolsa de magnesio | ||
| Climbing skins | peau de phoque | ||
| Compass | Kompass | Boussole, compas | Brújula |
| Crampons | Steigeisen | Crampons | Crampones |
| Etrier | Trittleiter | Étrier | |
| Hammer rock .. ice .. north wall .. |
Hammer Fels.. Eis.. Pickel-.. |
Marteau .. de Rocher .. à glace Piolet-marteau |
Martillo .. de roca .. de hielo Piolet-martillo |
| Harness (seat) full body .. |
Klettersitzgurt Kombiklettergurt |
Baudrier (cuissard) .. complet |
Arnés (de Cintura) .. completo |
| Head Torch | Stirnlampe | Lampe frontale | Linterna frontal |
| Helmet | Kopfschutz | Casque | Casco |
| Ice Piton | Eishaken | Piton à glace | Clavija de hielo |
| Ice Screw | Eisschraube | Piton à vis | Tornillo de hielo |
| Ice Axe | Eispickel | Piolet | Piolet |
| Map | Karte | Carte | Mapa |
| Nut | Nute | Picoin | Nudo |
| Nut-key | |||
| Piton, Peg | Haken | Piton | Clavija |
| Prussik sling | Reepschnur, Prusik-Schlinge |
Anneau à prussik | Anillo prusik |
| Rope climbing .. fixed .. rappel .. |
Seil Kletterseil Fixes .. Abseil Seil |
Corde .. d'escalade .. fixe Corde de rappel |
Cuerda, Soga Cordino, Cuerda fija |
| Ski-Bindings (touring) |
(Touren)Bindung Tourenbindung |
Fixations (de randonnée alpine) |
Fijaciones (para esquí de montaña) |
| Ski-brakes | Skistopper | Frein-ski | Freno-esquí |
| Ski-crampon | Harscheisen | Couteau à glace | Cuchillo para hielo |
| Sling | Schlinge | Anneau de Corde | Baga |
| Snowshovel | Schaufel | Pelle de Neige | Pala de Nieve |
| Directions | |||
| Left | links | à gauche | Izquierda |
| Right | rechts | à droite | Derecha |
| North | Norden | Nord | Norte |
| East | Osten | Est | Este |
| South | Suden | Sud | Sur |
| West | Westen | Ouest | Oeste |
| Up | (hinauf) | en montant | Arriba |
| Down | hinab | en bas | Abajo |
| Upstream | stromaufwarts | à mont | Río arriba |
| Downstream | flußabwarts | à val | Río abajo |
The idea came from the guidebook "Yuraq Janka" by J F Rickers. Additional information derived from varied sources, including Petzl catalogue, Editions Eclat Peru guidebook, personal experience, deductions from the Totes Gebirge climbing guide and a lot of head-scratching and dictionary bashing whilst reading caving publications in a variety of languages.
If you need a much more detailed vocabulary for climbing and mountaineering, I can do no better than recommend "Alpines Wörterbuch", by Rudolf Weiss, published by Bergverlag Rudolf Rother Gmbh, München, ISBN 3-7633-8062-0. This has four sections, Deutsch->Englisch,Französisch,Italienisch; English->German,French,Italian; Français->Allemand,Anglais,Italien and Italiano->Tedesco,Inglese,Francese.