silvestre

seel-BESS-treh/silˈbestɾe/

“silvestre” means “wild” in Spanish (growing in nature without human help).

wild

Also: natural, feral

Me encanta recoger flores silvestres en primavera.

I love picking wildflowers in the spring.

Las fresas silvestres son mucho más pequeñas que las del supermercado.

Wild strawberries are much smaller than the ones from the supermarket.

En esta zona viven muchos gatos silvestres.

Many feral cats live in this area.

Words that translate to "silvestre" in Spanish:

Question 1 of 3

Which of these would you most likely describe as 'silvestre'?

👥 Word Family▼

selvático(related to the jungle) — Adjective

Silvia(Silvia (name meaning 'from the woods')) — Noun

🎵 Rhymes▼

terrestrebimestrecampestre

📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'silvestris', which comes from 'silva' (meaning forest or woods). It literally describes things that belong to the woods.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: sylvanFrench: sylvestre

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Can I use 'silvestre' to describe a person?

Rarely. If you do, it suggests they are unrefined or 'rustic,' but it's much more common to use it for plants and animals.

What is the difference between 'silvestre' and 'natural'?

'Natural' is a broad term for anything not man-made, while 'silvestre' specifically implies it is growing or living 'wild' in its environment.

Does 'silvestre' mean 'forest'?

No, 'selva' or 'bosque' means forest. 'Silvestre' is the word used to describe the things that live inside it.