Santa Cruz de la Sierra
- proper noun
:
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
- Many tourists choose to visit Santa Cruz de la Sierra for its unique mix of traditional and modern attractions.
Examples
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The climate in Santa Cruz de la Sierra is tropical, with hot summers and mild winters.
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During the festival, visitors flock to Santa Cruz de la Sierra to experience its vibrant culture.
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Many international companies have opened offices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra in recent years.
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I visited Santa Cruz de la Sierra last summer.
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Have you ever been to Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
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The vibrant city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra is known for its diverse culture and economic growth.
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As Bolivia's largest city, Santa Cruz de la Sierra plays a significant role in the nation's economy.
Surface Forms
Morphology
Santa + Cruz + de + la + sierra
The toponym is compositionally built from recognizable Spanish elements (Santa = saint, Cruz = cross, de la = of the, sierra = mountain range), so a learner who knows those constituents can infer a literal meaning like 'Saint Cross of the Mountain Range' and that it is a place name. Although knowing the exact referent (the largest city in Bolivia) requires world knowledge, the lexical composition and place-name status are directly derivable from the parts.
Etymology
Santa Cruz de la Sierra: One popular story says a Spanish founder planted a cross on a nearby hill when he started the town and named it Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The parts Santa Cruz and Sierra mean 'Holy Cross' and 'of the mountains', so the name points to a cross on the hills and became the city's name today.
