tumba
nounCEFR B2
What does “tumba” mean in English?
grave, tomb — a burial place; the physical structure marking a burial
grave, tomb — a burial place; the physical structure marking a burial (visitar la tumba; en la tumba)
Example sentences
Visitaron la tumba del poeta para depositar flores en su memoria.
They visited the poet's grave to lay flowers in his memory.
Miles de soldados descansan en tumbas anónimas a lo largo de la costa normanda.
Thousands of soldiers rest in anonymous graves along the Normandy coast.
Tranquilo, soy una tumba; nadie se enterará de lo que me has contado.
Relax, my lips are sealed — no one will find out what you've told me.
How to use it
La tumba (noun, feminine) means 'grave' or 'tomb' — the burial place or physical structure. Key collocations: visitar/ir a la tumba; tumba anónima/desconocida; la tumba de. Distinguish from lápida (tombstone — the stone marker), sepulcro (sepulchre — literary/religious), and nicho (niche — wall burial common in Spain). The expression ser una tumba means 'to keep a secret absolutely' (no te preocupes, soy una tumba).
Common mistake
Don't confuse tumba (grave, burial place) with lápida (tombstone, the stone slab). In Spain, wall niches (nichos) are common instead of ground graves, so tumba is more often used for famous or notable burials. 'To send to the grave' = llevar a la tumba. Tumba also appears in proper names: La Tumba del Rey.