Home

cuna

Cuna is a Spanish noun meaning cradle or crib, the small bed used for infants. The word is feminine (la cuna) and has the plural cunas. In addition to naming the object itself, cuna is used in a wide range of expressions and contexts.

A common figurative use is to describe the place or period where something originates, often translated as

In everyday language, cuna can also refer to a nursery or a space associated with infant care,

See also: crib, cradle, cradle of civilization.

“cradle”
in
English.
For
example,
phrases
like
la
cuna
de
la
civilización
(the
cradle
of
civilization)
designate
the
origin
or
early
development
of
civilizations,
movements,
ideas,
or
cultures.
This
metaphor
extends
to
discussions
of
origins
in
history,
archaeology,
and
cultural
studies,
as
well
as
in
journalism
and
education
when
indicating
beginnings
or
sources.
emphasizing
its
role
in
early
childhood.
The
term
is
widely
understood
across
Spanish-speaking
regions
and
appears
in
both
formal
and
informal
registers.