desierto
“desierto” means “desert” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
desert
📝 In Action
El desierto de Atacama es muy seco.
A1The Atacama desert is very dry.
Viajamos en camello por el desierto.
A2We traveled by camel through the desert.
deserted, empty
Also: abandoned
📝 In Action
La playa estaba desierta después de la tormenta.
B1The beach was deserted after the storm.
El centro comercial está completamente desierto los domingos.
B1The shopping center is completely empty on Sundays.
Parece que el pueblo está desierto; no hay nadie en las calles.
B2It seems the town is deserted; there is no one in the streets.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: desierto
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'desierto' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *dēsertus*, which was the past form of the verb *dēserere* (meaning 'to abandon' or 'to forsake'). This is why 'desierto' can mean both a place that has been abandoned (a desert) and the state of being abandoned (deserted).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know whether 'desierto' means the place or the state?
Look at the word that comes before it! If you see 'el' or 'un' (El desierto de Gobi), it's the noun (the place). If it follows a form of the verb 'ser' or 'estar' and changes its ending (la calle desierta), it's the adjective (the state of being empty).