How to Say "forest" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “forest” is “bosque” — use 'bosque' when referring to a large area covered with trees, like a place you would visit or walk through.
bosque
BOHS-kehˈboske
Examples
Fuimos de excursión al bosque el fin de semana.
We went hiking in the forest this weekend.
El bosque estaba muy oscuro después del anochecer.
The woods were very dark after nightfall.
Los animales del bosque tienen mucho espacio para correr.
The forest animals have a lot of space to run.
Gender Rule
Since 'bosque' ends in -e, you need to memorize its gender: it is masculine. Always use the masculine article, 'el bosque' (the forest) or 'un bosque' (a forest).
Using the Wrong Article
Mistake: “La bosque.”
Correction: El bosque. Even though some -e ending words are feminine, this one is masculine.
forestal
fo-res-TALfoɾesˈtal
Examples
Los bomberos están luchando contra un gran incendio forestal.
The firefighters are fighting a large forest fire.
La zona forestal de este país es impresionante.
The forest area of this country is impressive.
Estudio ingeniería forestal porque amo la naturaleza.
I am studying forestry engineering because I love nature.
A Gender-Neutral Adjective
This word is a 'chameleon'—it doesn't change its ending for masculine or feminine things. You say 'el parque forestal' and 'la zona forestal'.
Adjective vs. Noun
In English, we often use the word 'forest' as both a noun and a descriptor. In Spanish, use 'bosque' for the place (noun) and 'forestal' to describe things related to it (adjective).
Avoid 'Forestala'
Mistake: “La reserva forestala.”
Correction: La reserva forestal. Words ending in -al in Spanish almost always stay the same for both boys and girls.
Noun vs. Adjective Confusion
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.