oleada

Oleada is a Spanish noun meaning a large wave or surge. It can refer to a physical ocean wave or to a metaphorical surge characterized by rapid influx or repetition.

The term derives from ola, meaning wave, with the -ada suffix that conveys a collection or abundance. It is used across Spanish-speaking regions and carries a nuance of mass, scale, or intensity without specifying a precise duration.

Common contexts include both literal and figurative uses. Literal usage appears in descriptions of oceanic conditions, while figurative usage describes rapid inflows or successive rises, such as una oleada de calor (a heat wave), una oleada migratoria (a migratory wave), or oleadas de protestas (waves of protests). In fields like epidemiology or criminology, oleadas describe outbreak phases or clusters that spread in a wave-like pattern.

In relation to related terms, oleada emphasizes the collective or dynamic aspect of a surge, whereas ola refers more directly to a single wave and oleaje to the broader sea swell. In English, oleada is typically translated as wave or surge, depending on context. The term is common in journalism, social science, and environmental discourse to characterize pronounced, widespread, or time-bound increases.