Are you a nature lover? Even if you are more of a city-dweller, you’ve likely taken a short vacation or trip to the countryside or the beach or even gone hiking in a mountain range.
No matter how cosmopolitan Spanish-speakers might seem, they do have an affinity for their “wild” and rural places. Many of them eagerly look forward to getting out of the city for the weekends and enjoying some fresh air.
Learning nature words in Spanish is a good way to improve your vocabulary and also increase your ability to have casual conversations with your new, Spanish-speaking friends. To help you learn, we’ve compiled this list of some basic nature words in Spanish.
9 Basic Words About Nature In Spanish
Talking about nature and the natural world around you is a good icebreaker conversation. To start you off here are a few basic words that talk about nature in Spanish.
1. Tierra
Pronunciation guide: tyeh-rrah
Meaning: Earth
2. Agua
Pronunciation guide: ah-gwah
Meaning: Water
3. Aire
Pronunciation guide: ay-reh
Meaning: Air
4. El sol
Pronunciation guide: ehl sohl
Meaning: The sun
5. La luna
Pronunciation guide: lah loo-nah
Meaning: The moon
6. Las estrellas
Pronunciation guide: lah ehs-treh-yah
Meaning: The stars
7. El suelo
Pronunciation guide: ehl swehloh
Meaning: The soil
8. El suelo
Pronunciation guide: ehl swehloh
Meaning: The ground
9. El cielo
Pronunciation guide: ehl syeh-loh
Meaning: Sky
Spanish Words You Can Use When Talking Plants And Other That Grow In The Earth
When talking about nature in Spanish, it’s practically inevitable that you will talk about plants and other things that grow in the earth. To help you out, here are a few basic Spanish words that pertain to plants.
1. La plantas
Pronunciation guide: lah plahn-tahs
Meaning: The plants
2. El tallo
Pronunciation guide: ehl tah-yo
Meaning: The stem
3. La hoja
Pronunciation guide: lah oh-hah
Meaning: The leaf
4. La raíz
Pronunciation guide: lah rrah-ees
Meaning: The root
5. La fruta
Pronunciation guide: lah froo-tah
Meaning: The fruit
6. La semilla
Pronunciation guide: lah she-mee-yah
Meaning: Seed
7. El arbusto
Pronunciation guide: ehl ahr-boos-toh
Meaning: The bush
8. El árbol
Pronunciation guide: ehl ahr-bohl
Meaning: The tree
9. La flor
Pronunciation guide: lah flohr
Meaning: The flower
10. El vegetal
Pronunciation guide: ehl beh-heh-tal
Meaning: The vegetable
11. El cactus
Pronunciation guide: ehl kahk-toos
Meaning: The cactus
12. La mala hierba
Pronunciation guide: Lah mah-lah yehr-bah
Meaning: The weed
13. La herba
Pronunciation guide: lah yehr-bah
Meaning: The herb
14. El césped
Pronunciation guide: ehl sehs-pehd
Meaning: The grass
Common Nature Words in Spanish If You Want To Talk About Trees
As we mentioned, in Spanish, the nature word for “tree” is “árbol”. There are also, however, other words that you can use when talking about trees in Spanish. Here are some basic Spanish words for common trees.
1. El castaño
Pronunciation guide: ehl kahs-tah-nyo
Meaning: The chestnut tree
2. El cedro
Pronunciation: ehl seh-droh
Meaning: The cedar
3. La haya
Pronunciation: lah ah-yah
Meaning: The beech tree
4. El olmo
Pronunciation guide: ehl ohl-moh
Meaning: The elm tree
5. El roble
Pronunciation guide: ehl rroh-bleh
Meaning: The oak tree
6. El robledo
Pronunciation guide: rroh-bleh-doh
Meaning: The oak wood
7. La palmas
Pronunciation guide: las pahl-mahs
Meaning: The palm trees
8. El pino
Pronunciation guide: ehl pe-noh
Meaning: The pine tree
9. El pinar
Pronunciation guide: ehl pee-nahr
Meaning: The pine forest
10. El eucalipto
Pronunciation guide: ehl ehoo-kahh-leep-toh
Meaning: The eucalyptus
11. El árbol frutal
Pronunciation guide: ehl ahr-bohl froo-tahl
Meaning: Fruit tree
Beautiful Spanish Words About Flowers and Flowering Plants
The word for ‘flower” in Spanish is “flor”. As in many cultures, in Spanish, “flor” or flower is also often used as a common feminine name. Here are a few more words in Spanish related to flowers as well as a few Spanish names for common flowers you might encounter on your travels.
1. El pétalo
Pronunciation guide: ehl peh-tah-loh
Meaning: The petal
2. El polent
Pronunciation guide: ehl poh-lehn
Meaning: The pollen
3. La espina
Pronunciation guide: lah ehs-pee-nah
Meaning: The thorn
4. Las rosas
Pronunciation guide: lahs roh-sahs
Meaning: The roses
5. Los claveles
Pronunciation guide: lahs klah-beh-lehs
Meaning: The carnation
6. Las margaritas
Pronunciation guide: lahs mahr-gah-ree-tahs
Meaning: The daisies
7. Los lirios
Pronunciation guide: lohs lee-reeohs
Meaning: The lilies
8. Las dalias
Pronunciation guide: lahs dah-leeahs
Meaning: The dahlias
9. Las lilas
Pronunciation guide: lahs lee-lah
Meaning: The lilacs
10. La amapola
Pronunciation guide: lah ah-mah-poh-lah
Meaning: The poppy
11. Los geranios
Meaning: The geraniums
Pronunciation guide: lohs heh-rah-neeohs
12. El tulipán
Pronunciation guide: ehl too-lee-pahn
Meaning: The tulip
13. Las violetas
Pronunciation guide: lahs byoh-leh-tah
Meaning: The violets
14. Les orquideas
Pronunciation guide: lahs ohr-kee-dahahs
Meaning: The orchids
15. La flor de lavada
Pronunciation guide: lah flohr deh lah-bahn-dah
Meaning: The lavender flower
Nature Words In Spanish That Refer To The Place And The View
One of the major reasons to travel outside the city is to enjoy the majestic natural views. Aside from visiting major cities and cultural centers, you should really take time to travel to some natural landmarks and enjoy the landscape. Here are a few words you should know so you can ask about and talk about the natural sights that you can see in your travels.
1. La vista
Pronunciation guide: lah bees-tah
Meaning: The view
2. El paisaje
Pronunciation guide: ehl pay-sah-heh
Meaning: The landscape
3. La montaña
Pronunciation guide: lah mohn-tahn-ya
Meaning: The mountain
4. La sierra
Pronunciation guide: lah syeh-rrah
Meaning: The mountain range
5. El precipicio
Pronunciation guide: lah preh-see-pee-syoh
Meaning: The cliff
6. La cueva
Pronunciation guide: lah kway-bah
Meaning: The cave
7. La colina
Pronunciation guide: lah koh-lee-nah
Meaning: The hill
8. El arroyo
Pronunciation guide: ehl ah-rroh-yoh
Meaning: The stream
9. El riachuelo
Pronunciation guide: ehl rryah-chweh-loh
Meaning: The brook
10. El bosque
Pronunciation guide: ehl bohs-keh
Meaning: The forest
12. El valle
Pronunciation guide: ehl bah-yeah
Meaning: The valley
13. El lago
Pronunciation guide: ehl lah-goh
Meaning: The lake
14. El río
Pronunciation guide: ehl ree-oh
Meaning: The river
15. El mar
Pronunciation guide: el mahr
Meaning: The sea
16. La arena
Pronunciation guide: lah ah-ray-nah
Meaning: The sand
17. El océano
Pronunciation guide: ehl oh-she-ah-noh
Meaning: The ocean
18. La orilla
Pronunciation guide: lah oh-ree-yah
Meaning: The shore
19. La playa
Pronunciation guide: Lah plah-yah
Meaning: The beach
20. La cascada
Pronunciation guide: Lah kahs-kah-dah
Meaning: The waterfall
21. El bosque
Pronunciation guide: ehl bohs-keh
Meaning: The forest
22. La selva tropical
Pronunciation guide: lah sehl-bah troh-pee-kahl
Meaning: The rainforest
23. La selva
Pronunciation guide: lah sehl-bah
Meaning: The jungle
24. El desierto
Pronunciation guide: ehl deh-syerhr-toh
Meaning: The desert
25. La sabana
Pronunciation guide: lah sah-bah-nah
Meaning: The savannah
26. Las dunas
Pronunciation guide: Lahs doo-nahs
Meaning: The dunes
27. El jardín
Pronunciation guide: ehl hahr-deen
Meaning: The garden
28. El césped
Pronunciation guide: ehl sehs-pehd
Meaning: The lawn
29. El huerto
Pronunciation guide: ehl wehr-toh
Meaning: The orchard
30. El huerto
Pronunciation guide: ehl wehr-toh
Meaning: The vegetable garden
31. La granja
Pronunciation guide: lah grahng-hah
Meaning: The farm
Spanish Words That You Should Learn To Talk About The Weather And Other Natural Phenomenon
If you are going to be living or traveling in a Spanish-speaking area, it’s a good thing to be able to talk about the seasons – especially the weather that each season brings. Here are a few Spanish words you need to know to talk about the weather and other natural phenomenon.
1. El tiempo
Pronunciation guide: tyehm-poh
Meaning: The weather
2. La Lluvia
Pronunciation guide: lah yoo-byah
Meaning: The rain
3. Las nubes
Pronunciation guide: lahs noo-behs
Meaning: The clouds
4. El viento
Pronunciation guide: ehl byehn-toh
Meaning: The wind
5. La brisa
Pronunciation guide: lah bree-sah
Meaning: Breeze
6. La tormenta
Pronunciation guide: lah tohr-mehn-tah
Meaning: The storm
7. La nieve
Pronunciation guide: lah nee-ay-bay
Meaning: The snow
8. El granizo
Pronunciation guide: ehl grah-nee-soh
Meaning: The hail
9. El huracán
Pronunciation guide: ehl huh-rih-keyn
Meaning: The hurricane
10. El ciclón
Pronunciation guide: ehl see-klohn
Meaning: The cyclone
11. El tornado
Pronunciation guide: ehl tohr-nah-doh
Meaning: The tornado
12. Aire fresco
Pronunciation guide: ay-reh frehs-koh
Meaning: Fresh air
13. El amanecer
Pronunciation guide: ehl ah-mah-neh-sehr
Meaning: The sunrise
14. El atardecer
Pronunciation guide: ehl ah-tahr-de-sehr
Meaning: The sunset
15. El calor
Pronunciation guide: ehl kah-lohr
Meaning: The heat
16. El frío
Pronunciation guide: ehl free-oh
Meaning: The cold
17. La ola
Pronunciation guide: lah oh-lah
Meaning: The wave
18. La marea
Pronunciation guide: lah mah-reh-ah
Meaning: The tide
Nature Words In Spanish For Animals You Will See In the Countryside
The nature words in Spanish that we are going to discuss here are for animals – both wild and domesticated – that you are likely to see when you go out of the city and into the countryside.
1. Los insectos
Pronunciation guide: lohs een-sehk-toh
Meaning: The insects
2. Los pájaro
Pronunciation guide: lohs pah-hah-rohs
Meaning: the birds
3. El pez
Pronunciation guide: ehl pehs
Meaning: The fish
4. El cangrejo
Pronunciation guide: ehl kahn-gray-hoh
Meaning: The crab
5. El venado
Pronunciation guide: ehl bay-nah-doh
Meaning: The deer
6. El conejo
Pronunciation guide: ehl koh-nay-hoh
Meaning: The rabbit
7. La mariposa
Pronunciation guide: lah mah-ree-poh-sah
Meaning: The butterfly
8. El mapache
Pronunciation guide: ehl mah-pah-cheh
Meaning: The raccoon
9. El ratón
Pronunciation guide: ehl rrah-tohn
Meaning; The mouse
10. La tortuga
Pronunciation guide: ehl tohr-too-gah
Meaning: The turtle
11. La serpiente
Pronunciation guide: lah sehr-pyehn-the
Meaning: The snake
12. La culebra
Pronunciation guide: lah koo-leh-brah
Meaning: The snake
13. El pato
Pronunciation guide: ehl pah-toh
Meaning: The duck
14. El ganso
Pronunciation guide: ehl gahn-soh
Meaning: The goose
15. La garza
Pronunciation guide: lah gahr-sah
Meaning: The heron
16. La paloma
Pronunciation guide: lah pah-loh-mah
Meaning: The dove
17. El búho
Pronunciation guide: ehl buho
Meaning: The owl
18. La gaviota
Pronunciation guide: lah gah-byoh-tah
Meaning: The seagull
19. El caballo
Pronunciation guide: ehl kah-bah-yoh
Meaning: The horse
20. La vaca
Pronunciation guide: lah bah-ka
Meaning: The cow
21. El toro
Pronunciation guide: ehl toh-roh
Meaning: The bull
22. El cerdo
Pronunciation guide: ehl sehr-doh
Meaning: The pig
23. La oveja
Pronunciation guide: lah oh-beh-hah
Meaning: The sheep
24. La cabra
Pronunciation guide: lah kah-brah
Meaning; The goat
25. El pollo
Pronunciation guide: ehl poh-yoh
Meaning: The chicken
Conclusion
For you to better learn these nature words in Spanish, we’ve complied the words that we talk about in this post (along with their meanings and the pronunciation guides) into this article. We suggest that you print out a copy of this list and take it with you to study and memorize the words at your convenience.
If you're interested in expanding your vocabulary with more than just nature, you should try some of these cool options:
Check out Babbel for fun, interactive lessons that fit into your day easily.
If you want something more in-depth, there's a great Spanish course on Coursera that covers everything from the basics to more advanced topics.
And if you prefer learning with a personal touch, Lingoda offers classes with native speakers that can really help you practice speaking.
What words to use to describe nature in Spanish?
Tierra - Earth, Agua - Water, Aire - Air, El sol- The sun, La luna - The moon, Las estrellas - Stars
