naturales
“naturales” means “natural” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
natural, inherent
Also: normal, native
📝 In Action
Necesitamos proteger los recursos naturales del planeta.
A2We need to protect the planet's natural resources.
Para ella, las matemáticas son naturales.
B1For her, mathematics comes naturally (is inherent).
Los colores de este cuadro son tan naturales.
A2The colors in this painting are so natural (realistic).
natives, locals
Also: indigenous people
📝 In Action
Los naturales del valle han mantenido sus tradiciones.
B2The natives of the valley have maintained their traditions.
Se organizó una reunión con los naturales de la región.
B2A meeting was organized with the locals of the region.
natural sciences
Also: science class
📝 In Action
Mañana tenemos examen de naturales a primera hora.
B1Tomorrow we have a natural sciences exam first thing.
Mi hermana es muy buena en naturales.
A2My sister is very good at natural sciences.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "naturales" in Spanish:
indigenous people→inherent→locals→native→natives→natural→natural sciences→normal→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: naturales
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'naturales' to refer to a school subject?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin term *nātūrālis*, which is built upon *nātūra* (meaning 'nature,' 'birth,' or 'quality'). It has been used in Spanish since the Middle Ages to describe things related to the world around us.
First recorded: 13th century (in similar forms)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'naturales' masculine or feminine?
It depends on how you use it. As an adjective, it changes to match the noun it describes (e.g., 'recursos naturales' [masculine] or 'leyes naturales' [feminine]). As a noun meaning 'natives,' it is typically masculine ('los naturales').
How is 'naturales' different from 'normales'?
While both can sometimes mean 'normal' or 'expected,' 'naturales' usually emphasizes a connection to nature, biology, or an inherent quality. 'Normales' strictly means 'usual' or 'standard' (e.g., 'cosas normales' = normal things).