# CUCC Expedition Handbook - useful vocabulary

## Useful vocabulary

This table of approximate translations is provided for a variety of reasons such as

1. If you are a non-english speaker, it may help to clarify some terms
2. If you are an english-speaker it may help you read foreign guidebooks or cave descriptions/surveys
3. It was here on disc, and a shame to waste it :-)

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 1998 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 (November 1999) is edition 5, now covering seven languages. I'll be adding some terms from this as time goes by...

English | German | French | Spanish
--- | --- | --- | ---
Abseil | Abseilung | Rappel | Rappel
Aid | Hilfsmittel | Aide |
Aiguille needle | Nadel, Spitze | Aiguille | 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 prímera .. .. registrada
Avalanche | Lawine | Avalanche | Alud, Avalancha(Arg.)
Belay (verb) | Sicherung Sichern | Relais Assurer | Asegurado ? Asegurar
Bergschrund | Bergschrund, Randkluft | Rimaye | Rimaya(Méx.)
Bivouac | Biwak | Bivouac | Vivac
Blocky | Block Geröll | Désintegrable |
Buttress | Rippe, Pfeiler, Stutze | Pilier | Contrafuerte(Méx.) Escalón (Arg.)
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 |  |  | Cañon
Cave | Höhle | Grotte | Cueva
Chimney | Kamin | Cheminée |
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 |
Col | Joch, Sattel, Scharte | Col | Collado, Cuello
Corner | Eck |  |
Cornice | Wächte | Corniche | Cornisa
Couloir | Rinne | Couloir | Couloir
Crack finger-crack jam-crack off-width |  |  |
Crest | Kamm | Crâte | Cresta
Crevasse | Gletscherspalte | Crevasse | Grieta
Cross (verb) | Kreuz Kreuzen | Croix Traverser | Cruz Atravesar
Descend | Absteigen | Descendre | Bajar, Descender
Descent | Abstieg | Descente | Bajada, Descenso
Detour (verb) | Umweg | Détour | Desviar
Dihedral | Verschneidung | Dièdre | Diedro
Direct | gerade | direct |
Divide, Watershed | Scheide | Ligne de Partage des eaux | Divisoria
Doline | Dolina, Kunntal | Doline | Dolina, Hoya, Jou
Exposed | Ausgesetzt | Exposé | Expuesto
Exposure |  | Exposition |
Face | Flanke, Wand | Face | Pared, Paredo
Fall, Peel, Lob |  |  |
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 | Pedrisco
Handhold |  |  | Griff
Hole | Loch | Trou |
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 (mesa) de Hielo
Junction (route turns off) | Abzweigung |  |
Knife edge rib |  |  | Cuchilla (Méx)
Landslide Mudflow/slide | Erdrutsch | Glissement de terrain Coulée de Boue | Huayaco, Derrumbe Aluvión, Huayaco
Lay away |  |  |
Layback |  |  |
Ledge | Felsvorsprung, brett ? | plateforme rocheuse | plataforma
Lesser | Niedriger | Moins | Menor
Limestone .. pavement | Kalk Karren | calcaire Lapies | piedra caliza Lapiaz
Loose (Chossy) | Locker | Friable | Flojo (Peru)
Main | Haupt | Principal | Principal
Mantleshelf |  |  |
Massif | Gebirgsmassiv, Gruppe | Massif | Macizo
Mist | Nebel | Brouillard | Neblina
Moraine | Moräne | Moraine | Morrena
Mountaineer | Bergsteiger | Alpiniste | Alpinista, Pyreneista Alpiniste
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 |
Overhang roof .. | Überhang | Surplomb | Sobre-calgando Techo
Pass, Saddle | Pass, Sattel | Col | Abra, Portachuelo, Collado
Peak (minor) | Gipfel, Berg, Spitze Vorgipfel | Pic, Cime, Sommet Pic secondaire | Pico, Cumbre, Cima, Cresta Pico menor, Punta
Pendulum |  | Pendule |
Pillar | Pfeiler |  |
Pinnacle, needle | Spitze, Felsturm | Gendarme | Pináculo, Aguja, Diente, Campanerio
Pitch (climbing) | Seillänge | Longueur | Cordada
Pitch (shaft) | Schacht | Puits | Pozo
Plain | Ebene | Plaine | Pampa
Plateau | Hochebene. Plateau | Plateau | Altiplano
Point | Punkt | Point | Punta
Porter | Träger | Porteur | Portador
Pothole | Schacht | Gouffre | Pozo, Sotano(Mex)
Rake |  |  |
Reconnaissance | Erkunden | Reconnaissance | Reconocimiento
Return trip | Rückweg | (Aller-) Retour | Viaje de Vuelte
Rib | Rippe | Côte |
Ridge | Grat, Kamm | Arâte | Arista
River dry/intermittent | Fluß | Rivière | Río Arroyo
Rock | Fels | Rocher | Roca
Rockfall | Steinschlag | Chute des Rochers, .. des Pierres | Caida de Piedra
Roof (overhang) |  |  | Techo
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
Scoop |  |  |
Scree | Schutt, Geröll | Eboulis | Talud
Serac | Serac, Eisturm | Sérac | Sérac
Sink |  |  | Sumidero
Slab |  |  |
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
Acanalado ?
.. Congelado, Helado
Neviza
.. Nueva
Penitente
.. Pulverulenta
Sástrugi
.. Pastosa
Costra Irrompile

Snowline permanent .. | Schneegrenze Ewigen Schnees | Limite des Neiges Limite des Neiges Perpetuelles | Linea de Nieve Limite de las Nieves Eternas
Spire | Spitze, Turm | Pointe | Aguja
Spur | Rippe | Éperon | Espolón
Stance | Standplatz ? |  |
Steep | steil | raide, escarpe | escarpado, abrupto
Stone | Stein | Pierre | Piedra
Stonefall | Steinschlag | Chutes des Pierres |
Talus | Schuttkegel | Talus | Talud
Thread (runner) |  |  |
Thunderstorm lightning thunder | Gewitter Blitz Donner | Orage Foudre, éclairs Tonnerre |
Torque (verb) |  |  |
Traverse (verb) | Überschreitung | Traverser | Atravesar
Unclimbed peak | Unbestiegener Gipfel | Cime Vierge | Cima Virgen
Verglas | Glasseis, Verglasst | Verglas |
Vertical | Senkrecht |  |
via, by way of | Über | Via | Por La Via
Wall | Wand | Mur |
Waterfall | Wasserfall | Chute d'eau, Cascade | Cascada, Salto, Catarata, Chorera
Weather .. forecast good.. bad.. | Wetter Wetterbericht Wettervorhersage | Temps bulletin météorologique previsions mét..s, Météo beau .. mauvais .. |
Wedge, jam (verb) | Klemmen |  |
Wind, windy | Wind, windig | Vente, venteux |
Equipment :
Altimeter | Aneroid | Altimetre |
Ascender | Steigbugel, Steigklemme | Ascendeur, Bloqueur, Jumar | Bloqueador
Bolt | Bolzen | Spit, Piton Gollo | Spit (à expansion)
Bolt/anchor/hanger | Bohrhaken | Amarrage | Anclaje
Boots | Bergschuhe | Chaussures de Montagne | Zapatos de Escalada
Carabiner | Karabiner | Mousqueton | Mosqueton
Chalk |  |  |
Chalkbag |  |  |
Climbing skins |  | peau de phoque |
Compass | Kompass | boussole, compas | brujula (?)
Crampons | Steigeisen | Crampons | Grampones
Etrier | Trittleiter | Étrier |
Hammer rock .. ice .. north wall .. | Hammer Fels.. Eis.. Pickel-.. | Marteau .. de Rocher .. à glace Piolet-marteau | Martillo
Harness (seat) full body .. | Klettersitzgurt Kombiklettergurt | Baudrier (cuissard) .. complet | Arnes (de Cintura) .. completo
Head Torch | Stirnlampe | Lampe frontale | Linterna frontal
Helmet | Kopfschutz | Casque | Casca
Ice Piton | Eishaken | Piton à glace |
Ice Screw | Eisschraube | Piton à vis |
Ice Axe | Eispickel | Piolet | Piolet
Map | Karte | Carte | Mapa
Nut | Nute | Picoin |
Nut-key |  |  |
Piton, Peg | Haken | Piton | Clavija
Prussik sling | Reepschnur, Prusik-Schlinge | Anneau à prussik |
Rope climbing .. fixed .. rappel .. | Seil Kletterseil Fixes .. Abseil Seil | Corde .. d'escalade .. fixe Corde de rappel | Cuerda, Soga Soga, Cuerda Cordino, Cuerda fija
Ski-Bindings (touring) | (Touren)Bindung Tourenbindung | Fixations (de randonnée alpine) | Fijacions (para esqui de montana)
Ski-brakes | Skistopper | Frein-ski | Freno-esqui
Ski-crampon | Harscheisen | Couteau à glace | Cuchillo para hielo
Sling | Schlinge | Anneau de Corde |
Snowshovel | Schaufel | Pelle de Neige | Pala de Nieve
Directions
Left | links | à gauche | izquierda
Right | rechts | à droite | derecho
North | Norden | Nord | Norte
East | Osten | Est | Este
South | Suden | Sud | Sur
West | Westen | Ouest | Oeste
Up | (hinauf) | en montant |
Down | hinab | en bas |
Upstream | stromaufwarts | à mont | Rio arriba
Downstream | flußabwarts | à val | Rio

Acknowledgements:

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.

Expedition Handbook - Intro
Prospecting guide
Surveying guide
Taking bearings to locate caves
Rescue guide
Photography guide
Rigging guide
Index to info/topics pages
Full Index to area 1623
Area/subarea descriptions
Back to Expedition Intro page
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