naturaleza
“naturaleza” means “nature (the environment)” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
nature (the environment)
Also: wilderness, the countryside
📝 In Action
Me encanta caminar por la naturaleza para relajarme.
A1I love walking through nature to relax.
Debemos proteger la naturaleza de la contaminación.
A2We must protect nature from pollution.
El documental era sobre la belleza de la naturaleza amazónica.
B1The documentary was about the beauty of Amazonian nature.
nature (character/essence)
Also: disposition, kind/sort
📝 In Action
La naturaleza humana es complicada.
B1Human nature is complicated.
Por naturaleza, él es muy tímido.
B2By nature, he is very shy.
Entender la naturaleza del problema nos ayudó a resolverlo.
C1Understanding the nature of the problem helped us solve it.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: naturaleza
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'naturaleza' to mean 'inherent character' rather than 'the environment'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *natūra*, meaning 'birth, constitution, character, course of things.' The word describes everything that is 'born' or 'comes into being' on its own.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'naturaleza' always feminine?
Yes, 'naturaleza' is a feminine noun, which is why it always pairs with the article 'la' and feminine adjectives. Most nouns ending in '-eza' are feminine in Spanish.
When should I use 'por naturaleza'?
Use 'por naturaleza' when you want to say that a person or thing has a quality inherently or instinctively. Think of it as meaning 'by default' or 'by character.' (e.g., 'El gato es cazador por naturaleza.')