How to Say "jungle" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “jungle” is “selva” — use 'selva' when referring to a dense, overgrown tropical forest, especially specific regions like the Amazon rainforest..
selva
/sel-vah//ˈselβa/
Examples
La selva amazónica es el pulmón del planeta.
The Amazon rainforest is the lung of the planet.
Tuvimos que abrirnos camino con un machete a través de la densa selva.
We had to cut our way through the dense jungle with a machete.
En la selva viven miles de especies de animales que no se encuentran en ningún otro lugar.
Thousands of animal species that are not found anywhere else live in the rainforest.
La ciudad se convirtió en una selva de cemento donde solo sobreviven los más fuertes.
The city turned into a concrete jungle where only the strongest survive.
Gender Check
Remember that 'selva' is always feminine, so you must use 'la selva' or 'una selva'.
Figurative Use
This meaning uses 'selva' to compare a difficult situation (like a competitive office or a big city) to a literal jungle.
Selva vs. Bosque
Mistake: “Using 'bosque' for the Amazon.”
Correction: 'Selva' specifically refers to a very dense, usually tropical, rainforest. 'Bosque' is a general term for any forest or woods (like a temperate forest).
jungla
/hoong-glah//ˈxuŋ.ɡla/
Examples
Tuvimos que abrirnos paso con machetes a través de la jungla.
We had to hack our way through the jungle with machetes.
La jungla amazónica alberga miles de especies de animales.
The Amazon jungle is home to thousands of animal species.
El mercado laboral es una jungla donde solo sobreviven los más fuertes.
The job market is a jungle where only the strongest survive.
La jungla de cemento de la ciudad de Nueva York nunca duerme.
The concrete jungle of New York City never sleeps.
Gender Check
Remember that 'jungla' is always feminine, so you must use 'la jungla' or 'una jungla'.
Using Metaphors
This meaning uses 'jungla' as a metaphor, comparing a complex system (like a city or a job market) to the wild, dangerous environment of a real jungle.
Using the wrong article
Mistake: “El jungla es verde.”
Correction: La jungla es verde. (It is a feminine noun, even though it ends in 'a' like many feminine words.)
selva
/sel-vah//ˈselβa/
Examples
La ciudad se convirtió en una selva de cemento donde solo sobreviven los más fuertes.
The city turned into a concrete jungle where only the strongest survive.
La selva amazónica es el pulmón del planeta.
The Amazon rainforest is the lung of the planet.
Tuvimos que abrirnos camino con un machete a través de la densa selva.
We had to cut our way through the dense jungle with a machete.
En la selva viven miles de especies de animales que no se encuentran en ningún otro lugar.
Thousands of animal species that are not found anywhere else live in the rainforest.
Gender Check
Remember that 'selva' is always feminine, so you must use 'la selva' or 'una selva'.
Figurative Use
This meaning uses 'selva' to compare a difficult situation (like a competitive office or a big city) to a literal jungle.
Selva vs. Bosque
Mistake: “Using 'bosque' for the Amazon.”
Correction: 'Selva' specifically refers to a very dense, usually tropical, rainforest. 'Bosque' is a general term for any forest or woods (like a temperate forest).
jungla
/hoong-glah//ˈxuŋ.ɡla/
Examples
El mercado laboral es una jungla donde solo sobreviven los más fuertes.
The job market is a jungle where only the strongest survive.
Tuvimos que abrirnos paso con machetes a través de la jungla.
We had to hack our way through the jungle with machetes.
La jungla amazónica alberga miles de especies de animales.
The Amazon jungle is home to thousands of animal species.
La jungla de cemento de la ciudad de Nueva York nunca duerme.
The concrete jungle of New York City never sleeps.
Gender Check
Remember that 'jungla' is always feminine, so you must use 'la jungla' or 'una jungla'.
Using Metaphors
This meaning uses 'jungla' as a metaphor, comparing a complex system (like a city or a job market) to the wild, dangerous environment of a real jungle.
Using the wrong article
Mistake: “El jungla es verde.”
Correction: La jungla es verde. (It is a feminine noun, even though it ends in 'a' like many feminine words.)
Jungla vs. Selva: Literal vs. Metaphorical Use
Related Translations
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