planta
/PLAN-tah/
plant
The most common meaning of planta is a plant or living organism (vegetation).
📝 In Action
Mi abuela tiene muchas plantas medicinales en su patio.
A2My grandmother has many medicinal plants in her yard.
Necesitas regar la planta una vez a la semana.
A1You need to water the plant once a week.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Reminder
Even though 'planta' ends in -a, remember it is a feminine noun, so you always use 'la' or 'una' with it.
⭐ Usage Tips
Specific vs. General
Use 'planta' for a single, potted plant. Use 'vegetación' or 'flora' for a large group of plants.
In architecture, planta refers to a floor or level of a building.
📝 In Action
La sala de conferencias está en la quinta planta.
A2The conference room is on the fifth floor.
Vamos a subir a la planta de arriba por las escaleras.
B1We are going up to the floor above using the stairs.
💡 Grammar Points
Counting Floors
In Spain and many parts of Latin America, 'planta baja' is the ground level. The floor immediately above that is the 'primera planta' (first floor).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Planta' and 'Piso'
Mistake: "Using 'piso' to mean the story of a building when 'planta' is more common in that context, especially in Spain."
Correction: While 'piso' works, 'planta' specifically refers to the level. 'Piso' often means the apartment itself.
Planta can also mean the sole, the bottom surface of the foot.
📝 In Action
Sentí una astilla clavada en la planta del pie.
B1I felt a splinter stuck in the sole of my foot.
El masajista me frotó la planta para aliviar el dolor.
B2The masseuse rubbed my sole to relieve the pain.
💡 Grammar Points
Body Parts
Like many body parts, 'planta' is typically used with the definite article ('la') rather than a possessive word ('mi').
In an industrial context, planta means a factory or industrial building.
📝 In Action
La planta automotriz cerrará temporalmente por mantenimiento.
B2The automotive plant will close temporarily for maintenance.
Trabajan en una planta que produce componentes electrónicos.
C1They work at a factory that produces electronic components.
💡 Grammar Points
Context is Key
When talking about business or industry, 'planta' almost always means a manufacturing site, not a potted plant.
The word planta is related to the action 'to plant'.
planta(verb)
to plant
?infinitive meaning
to stand firm
?reflexive usage: plantarse
,to stand up / to abandon
?colloquial usage (me planta)
📝 In Action
El jardinero planta flores nuevas cada mes de mayo.
A2The gardener plants new flowers every May. (Uses 'planta')
Él siempre se planta y no cambia de opinión.
B2He always stands firm and doesn't change his mind.
💡 Grammar Points
Imperative Form Match
Notice that the 'tú' command form (¡Planta!) is the exact same as the 'él/ella' present tense form (él planta).
⭐ Usage Tips
Slang Warning
Using 'plantar' to mean 'to stand someone up' or 'to abandon' is very common in informal Spanish, especially in Spain and parts of Latin America.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: planta
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'planta' to refer to a specific location in a building?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'planta' always feminine?
Yes, in all of its noun meanings (plant, floor, sole, factory), 'planta' is a feminine noun, requiring 'la' or 'una'.
What is the difference between 'planta baja' and 'primer piso'?
'Planta baja' is the floor at street level (the ground floor). The 'primer piso' is the floor immediately above the ground floor.