Alta California

/ˈɑːltə ˌkælɪˈfɔː(ɹ)ni.ə/

proper noun

A geographic region of New Spain, later Mexico, which today roughly comprises the U.S. states of California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.

OriginSpanish Alta California →
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Meanings

proper noun
  1. historicalA geographic region of New Spain, later Mexico, which today roughly comprises the U.S. states of California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.

Origin

  1. SpanishAlta California“upper California”
  2. EnglishAlta California

Borrowed from Spanish Alta California (“upper California”).

More words from Spanish

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 上加利福尼亞 /上加利福尼亚
  • 上加利福尼亞 /上加利福尼亚 (Shàng Jiālìfúníyà)historic region of New Spain and Mexico, now part of the US
Polish Alta California
  • Alta Californiahistoric region of New Spain and Mexico, now part of the US
Portuguese Alta Califórnia
  • Alta Califórniahistoric region of New Spain and Mexico, now part of the US
Cite this entry
APA

Alta California. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Alta%20California

MLA

“Alta California.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Alta%20California. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Alta California,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Alta%20California.

Source: Alta California on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.