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How to Say "natural" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “natural” is “natural” — use this word when referring to things that belong to nature, the environment, or are not man-made.

English → Spanish

natural

nah-too-RAHLna.tuˈɾal

adjectiveA1general
Use this word when referring to things that belong to nature, the environment, or are not man-made.
A single, vibrant green leaf covered in sparkling morning dew drops, emphasizing freshness and nature.

Examples

El parque es famoso por sus paisajes naturales.

The park is famous for its natural landscapes.

Prefiero comer fruta natural en vez de dulces.

I prefer to eat natural fruit instead of sweets.

La caída de una manzana es un fenómeno natural.

The falling of an apple is a natural phenomenon.

Adjective Placement

'Natural' usually goes after the noun it describes, emphasizing a quality, like 'agua natural' (natural water).

naturales

nah-too-RAH-lesna.tuˈɾa.les

adjectiveA2general
This is the plural form of 'natural' and is used when referring to multiple things or resources that are part of nature.
A vibrant green mountain landscape featuring a tall pine tree and a small blue river flowing in the foreground.

Examples

Necesitamos proteger los recursos naturales del planeta.

We need to protect the planet's natural resources.

Para ella, las matemáticas son naturales.

For her, mathematics comes naturally (is inherent).

Los colores de este cuadro son tan naturales.

The colors in this painting are so natural (realistic).

Adjective Agreement

Since 'naturales' is an adjective, it must agree in number (plural) with the noun it describes, regardless of whether the noun is masculine (recursos) or feminine (leyes).

Using the singular form

Mistake: “Los recursos natural.”

Correction: Los recursos naturales. Remember to make the adjective plural when the noun is plural.

espontáneo

adjectiveB1general
Use this word to describe behavior or actions that are unforced, unplanned, and come from genuine impulse.

Examples

Fue una decisión espontánea salir a caminar.

It was a spontaneous decision to go for a walk.

silvestre

seel-BESS-trehsilˈbestɾe

adjectiveB1general
This word applies to plants or animals that grow or live in the wild, uncultivated by humans.
A cluster of colorful wildflowers growing naturally in a lush green meadow.

Examples

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.

One form for both genders

This word doesn't change its ending for masculine or feminine nouns. You can say 'un árbol silvestre' or 'una planta silvestre'.

Plural form

To make it plural, just add '-es' to the end: 'bosques silvestres'.

Avoid 'silvestra'

Mistake: “La flor silvestra.”

Correction: La flor silvestre. (Adjectives ending in 'e' usually stay the same for both genders).

suelto

SWELL-toh'swelto

adjectiveB2general
Use this word to describe someone's manner of speaking or movement as being relaxed, fluid, and uninhibited.
A cartoon illustration of a person speaking effortlessly. Smooth, continuous blue wavy lines flow easily out of the speaker's mouth, indicating smooth, fluent speech.

Examples

Tiene una manera de hablar muy suelta y confiada.

He has a very fluent and confident way of speaking.

Su estilo de baile es muy suelto y elegante.

Her dancing style is very natural and elegant.

Escribió el ensayo con una pluma suelta.

He wrote the essay with an easy/fluent hand.

Figurative Use

This meaning uses the idea of 'not being tied up or restricted' to describe a lack of stiffness or inhibition in speech or movement.

Overusing 'fluido'

Mistake: “Only using 'fluido' for speech fluency.”

Correction: 'Suelto' often sounds more natural and native than 'fluido' when describing a relaxed, easy manner of speaking or writing.

Nature vs. Spontaneity

The most common confusion is between 'natural' and 'espontáneo.' Remember, 'natural' (or 'naturales') refers to things in nature or the environment. 'Espontáneo' describes actions or behavior that are unforced and spontaneous.

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