planta
“planta” means “plant” in Spanish. It has 5 different meanings depending on context:
plant
Also: 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.
floor
Also: story
📝 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.
sole
Also: tread
📝 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.
factory
Also: facility
📝 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.
to plant
Also: to stand firm, to stand up / to abandon
📝 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.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: planta
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'planta' to refer to a specific location in a building?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *planta*, which originally meant 'sprout' or 'cutting' (a piece of a plant used for growing), and also referred to the 'sole of the foot.' This shared root explains the two main physical meanings (vegetation and foot base). The meanings related to 'floor' and 'factory' evolved later, based on the idea of a flat surface or a fixed foundation.
First recorded: 13th century (in Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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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.