plantas
/plan-tas/
plants
Plantas means 'plants,' like these vibrant green organisms.
📝 In Action
Necesito regar las plantas del balcón.
A1I need to water the plants on the balcony.
Hay muchas plantas medicinales en el jardín de mi abuela.
A2There are many medicinal plants in my grandmother's garden.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Number
Since 'planta' is feminine, 'plantas' is always used with feminine articles and adjectives, like 'las plantas verdes' (the green plants).
⭐ Usage Tips
Avoid Confusion with Vegetables
While 'vegetales' can sometimes mean plants, stick to 'plantas' when referring specifically to trees, flowers, or general greenery, and use 'verduras' or 'vegetales' for food.
Plantas can also refer to 'floors' or levels within a building.
📝 In Action
¿En qué plantas están las oficinas principales?
A2On which floors are the main offices?
Subimos por las escaleras hasta las plantas superiores.
B1We went up the stairs to the upper floors.
💡 Grammar Points
Regional Differences
In some regions, 'piso' is used more often than 'planta' for 'floor' or 'apartment', but 'planta' is universally understood to mean the level of a building.
When used as a verb, plantas means 'you plant' (informal singular).
plantas(Verb)
you plant
?informal singular present tense
you put down
?figurative meaning
📝 In Action
Si plantas más árboles, tendremos más sombra.
A2If you plant more trees, we will have more shade.
¿Qué plantas hoy en el huerto?
A2What are you planting in the garden today?
💡 Grammar Points
Regular -AR Verb
'Plantar' is a regular verb, meaning its endings follow the standard pattern for verbs that end in -ar. This makes it easy to conjugate once you know the pattern!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'Tú' and 'Usted'
Mistake: "Using 'tú plantas' when speaking formally to someone you don't know."
Correction: For formal situations, use 'usted planta'. 'Plantas' is only for informal singular 'you'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: plantas
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'plantas' in the verb form?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'plantas' means 'plants' or 'floors'?
Context is key! If the sentence mentions watering, gardening, or leaves, it means the living organism. If it mentions buildings, climbing stairs, or architects, it means floors/levels.
Is 'plantas' ever used to mean the sole of the foot?
Yes, absolutely! The singular 'planta del pie' means 'sole of the foot.' The plural 'plantas de los pies' means 'soles of the feet,' though this is less common than the other two meanings.