Inklingo

How to Say "grass" in Spanish

English → Spanish

hierba

/YAIR-bah//ˈjeɾ.βa/

nounA1general
Use 'hierba' when referring to grass in a general sense, like a lawn, field, or pasture, often implying a natural growth.
A lush, bright green lawn filling the foreground under a clear blue sky.

Examples

Necesito cortar la hierba del jardín este fin de semana.

I need to cut the grass in the garden this weekend.

Nos sentamos en la hierba para hacer un picnic.

We sat on the grass to have a picnic.

Always Feminine

Even though 'hierba' starts with the sound 'ye-' (a strong vowel sound), it does not take the masculine article 'el' like some other feminine nouns (e.g., el agua). It is always 'la hierba'.

Using the wrong article

Mistake: “El hierba es verde.”

Correction: La hierba es verde. (The grass is green.)

césped

nounA2general
Use 'césped' specifically for grass that has been cultivated or maintained as a covering, like a lawn in a park or garden, often implying it's been mown.

Examples

El niño corrió descalzo sobre el césped recién cortado.

The child ran barefoot over the freshly cut grass.

Hierba vs. Césped

Learners often confuse 'hierba' and 'césped' by using 'césped' for any type of grass. Remember that 'césped' usually refers to manicured, lawn-like grass, while 'hierba' is more general for grass in fields or as a plant.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.