naturales
/nah-too-RAH-les/
natural
Depicting something 'natural' (natural).
naturales(Adjective)
natural
?relating to nature or the environment
,inherent
?existing as a permanent, essential attribute
normal
?expected or usual (less common than 'normales')
,native
?of plants or animals
📝 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).
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
Since 'naturales' is an adjective, it must agree in number (plural) with the noun it describes, regardless of whether the noun is masculine (recursos) or feminine (leyes).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the singular form
Mistake: "Los recursos natural."
Correction: Los recursos naturales. Remember to make the adjective plural when the noun is plural.
⭐ Usage Tips
Meaning 'Inherent'
You can use 'naturales' to describe feelings, talents, or abilities that someone is born with, like saying 'sus habilidades son naturales' (their skills are natural/innate).
Depicting 'natives' (naturales), people indigenous to a location.
naturales(Noun)
natives
?people indigenous to a place
,locals
?people from that specific town or area
indigenous people
?more formal usage
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Noun Use
When used as a noun, 'naturales' refers to people. Because it is a plural noun, it is always preceded by a plural article like 'los' or 'unos'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Context
While perfectly correct, using 'los naturales' often sounds more formal or historical than simply using 'los nativos' or 'la gente local' (the local people).
Depicting the 'natural sciences' (naturales).
naturales(Noun)
natural sciences
?academic subject (shortened form)
science class
?school context
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Implied Feminine
Even though 'naturales' itself ends in '-es', this noun usage is actually short for 'las ciencias naturales' (the natural sciences). Therefore, if you use an article, it should be feminine, like 'la clase de naturales'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong article
Mistake: "El naturales es difícil."
Correction: Las naturales (or La clase de naturales) es difícil. Remember the core noun 'ciencias' is feminine.
⭐ Usage Tips
School Talk
This shortened form is extremely common among students and teachers when referring to the school subject.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: naturales
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'naturales' to refer to a school subject?
📚 More Resources
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).