basura
/ba-SOO-ra/
trash
This shows the literal meaning of basura: general household trash or garbage.
basura(Noun)
trash
?general waste
,garbage
?especially kitchen waste
,rubbish
?common in UK English
litter
?trash discarded on the ground
📝 In Action
Por favor, saca la basura.
A1Please, take out the trash.
El camión de la basura pasa los martes por la mañana.
A2The garbage truck comes on Tuesday mornings.
No tires basura en el parque.
A2Don't throw litter in the park.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Remember that 'basura' is a feminine word, so you'll always use 'la basura' or 'una basura', never 'el' or 'un'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Trash Can vs. Wastebasket
A larger bin, like in a kitchen, is a 'cubo de basura'. A smaller one in an office or bedroom is often called a 'papelera'.
In informal contexts, basura can describe something of very low quality, like this pile of junk electronics.
basura(Noun)
junk
?low-quality items
,rubbish
?something of poor quality
trash
?a despicable person (strong insult)
,scum
?a despicable person (very strong insult)
📝 In Action
Esta película es basura, no pierdas tu tiempo.
B1This movie is rubbish, don't waste your time.
No compres ese teléfono, es pura basura.
B1Don't buy that phone, it's pure junk.
Ese hombre es una basura, trata muy mal a la gente.
B2That man is scum, he treats people very badly.
💡 Grammar Points
Describing People and Things
To say something or someone 'is trash', you use the structure 'ser una basura'. For example, 'El programa es una basura' (The show is trash).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Estar' instead of 'Ser'
Mistake: "Él está una basura."
Correction: Él es una basura. Use 'ser' because you're describing someone's character or the essential quality of a thing, not a temporary state.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use With Caution!
Calling a person 'basura' is a very strong and offensive insult. Be very careful when using it this way.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: basura
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'basura' in a figurative (not literal) way?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'basura' and 'residuos'?
'Basura' is the everyday word for trash or garbage. 'Residuos' is a more formal or technical term, often used in contexts like recycling or industrial waste, similar to the English word 'waste' or 'residue'.
How do I say 'junk food' in Spanish?
The most common and direct translation is 'comida basura', which literally means 'trash food'. You might also hear 'comida chatarra', which literally means 'scrap metal food'.