jungla
/hoong-glah/
jungle
The literal meaning of jungla: a dense tropical forest.
📝 In Action
Tuvimos que abrirnos paso con machetes a través de la jungla.
B1We had to hack our way through the jungle with machetes.
La jungla amazónica alberga miles de especies de animales.
A2The Amazon jungle is home to thousands of animal species.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Check
Remember that 'jungla' is always feminine, so you must use 'la jungla' or 'una jungla'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong article
Mistake: "El jungla es verde."
Correction: La jungla es verde. (It is a feminine noun, even though it ends in 'a' like many feminine words.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Jungla vs. Selva
While both mean 'jungle' or 'rainforest,' 'selva' is often used in Spanish-speaking countries to refer specifically to large, untouched tropical forests, whereas 'jungla' sometimes carries a stronger connotation of wildness or impenetrable density.
Jungla can metaphorically describe a chaotic or ruthless environment where competition is intense.
jungla(noun)
jungle
?chaotic or ruthless environment
rat race
?competitive environment
,dog-eat-dog world
?ruthless competition
📝 In Action
El mercado laboral es una jungla donde solo sobreviven los más fuertes.
B2The job market is a jungle where only the strongest survive.
La jungla de cemento de la ciudad de Nueva York nunca duerme.
C1The concrete jungle of New York City never sleeps.
💡 Grammar Points
Using Metaphors
This meaning uses 'jungla' as a metaphor, comparing a complex system (like a city or a job market) to the wild, dangerous environment of a real jungle.
⭐ Usage Tips
Adding Context
To make sure people understand you are using the figurative sense, always pair 'jungla' with a descriptive word like 'urbana' (urban) or 'financiera' (financial).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: jungla
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'jungla' in its figurative sense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'jungla' the same as 'selva'?
They are very similar! Both refer to dense tropical forests. 'Selva' is perhaps more common in Latin American countries and often emphasizes the vast, natural ecosystem, while 'jungla' is often used when emphasizing the difficulty, wildness, or impenetrable nature of the forest. They are usually interchangeable.
How do I pronounce the 'j' in 'jungla'?
The 'j' in 'jungla' makes a strong, breathy 'h' sound, similar to the 'h' in the English word 'house'. The correct sound is /hoong-glah/.