What does “aguas bravas” mean in Spanish?
Perro aventurero que hace rafting en Islandia
A2 Spanish listening practice · Mexican Spanish · Picked for people who know a little
The clip calls Balú “un veterano de las aguas bravas” — a veteran of the wild rapids. “Aguas bravas” is the everyday Spanish name for whitewater: the fast, foaming river water you raft or kayak down. “Bravas” here means fierce or wild, pointing to the rough force of the water — not bravery. So the line is saying this little dog is a truly experienced river dog.
Spoken line: “considerado un veterano de las aguas bravas” — “considered a veteran of the wild rapids.” A few more uses: “Hacemos rafting en aguas bravas” (We go rafting on whitewater); “El río baja con aguas bravas en primavera” (The river runs rough and fast in spring); “Es guía de aguas bravas” (He’s a whitewater guide). Note: “aguas” is plural here even for one river, and “bravas” means rough or fierce water — not angry people. You will meet this term in any talk about rafting, kayaking, or river sports.
How common are the words?
How common are the words in this A2 Spanish listening practice video?
How common in written Spanish
How common in spoken Spanish
Harder words in this video
These words are harder than A2. Here is what they mean.
Source: wordfreq 3.1.1 (general) · SUBTLEX-ESP 2011 (spoken). These numbers are close, not perfect.