La concha está en la orilla del mar.

The shell is on the shore of the sea.

Breakdown of La concha está en la orilla del mar.

• en: in
• estar: to be
• de: of
• el mar: the sea
• la orilla: the shore
• la concha: the shell

Questions & Answers about La concha está en la orilla del mar.

Why is la concha used here? Could I say concha or una concha instead?

Spanish normally requires a definite article before a noun when you’re talking about a specific object.
• la concha = “the seashell” (it’s a particular shell you have in mind)
• una concha = “a seashell” (any shell, non-specific)
• Dropping the article (concha está…) sounds unnatural in this context.

Why do we use está instead of es for “is”?

Location and temporary states in Spanish always use the verb estar, not ser.
• está (from estar) = “is located” or “is in a place”
• es (from ser) = “is” for inherent qualities or permanent characteristics

Why do we say del mar instead of de el mar?

Spanish grammar contracts de + el into del. You never separate them.
• de + el = del
• No valid alternative is de el.

Could I use a different preposition like sobre or a instead of en?

• en expresses static location (“on/at the shoreline”).
• sobre implies “on top of” a surface (“La concha está sobre la arena”).
• a indicates motion toward a place (“Voy a la orilla”) rather than “being at” it.

What’s the difference between orilla, playa, and costa?

• orilla = the precise edge where water meets land (“shoreline”).
• playa = the sandy area people relax on (“beach”).
• costa = the wider coastal region, often used for larger stretches of coastline (“coast”).

Does concha have other meanings in Spanish?

Yes—meaning changes by region and context:
• In Mexico, concha is also a sweet, shell-shaped bread roll.
• In some Southern Cone countries (e.g. Argentina), it’s vulgar slang for female genitalia.
Here, the beach context tells you it simply means “seashell.”