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leña

LEH-nyahˈleɲa

firewood

Also: logs
NounfA2
A neat stack of chopped wooden logs piled on top of each other.

📝 In Action

Fuimos al bosque a buscar leña para la fogata.

A2

We went to the forest to look for firewood for the campfire.

La leña está demasiado húmeda y no prende.

B1

The firewood is too damp and won't catch fire.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • madera (wood (general material))

Common Collocations

  • cortar leña – to chop wood
  • hacer leña – to make firewood

Idioms & Expressions

thrashing

Also: hard time
NounfB2informal
A soccer ball sitting deep inside the back of a net.

📝 In Action

El equipo rival nos dio mucha leña en el segundo tiempo.

B2

The rival team gave us a real thrashing in the second half.

Los críticos le dieron leña a la nueva película.

C1

The critics gave the new movie a hard time.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • paliza (beating/thrashing)
  • caña (pressure/toughness)

Common Collocations

  • dar leña – to play rough or hit hard
  • repartir leña – to hand out a beating

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "leña" in Spanish:

firewood→hard time→logs→thrashing→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: leña

Question 1 of 2

If you are building a wooden chair, what material are you using?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
leñador(lumberjack) — Noun
leñera(woodshed) — Noun
leño(log) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
peñaseñadueña
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'ligna', which was the plural form of 'lignum' (wood). Over time, the plural 'ligna' became the feminine singular word 'leña' in Spanish.

First recorded: 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: lenhaItalian: legna

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'leña' and 'leño'?

'Leña' usually refers to a pile of firewood or the general concept of wood for burning. 'Un leño' refers to one specific, individual log.

Is 'leña' used the same way in all Spanish-speaking countries?

Yes, for the meaning of 'firewood,' it is universal. The slang meaning of 'a beating' or 'playing rough' is also widely understood, especially in Spain and parts of Latin America.