Inklingo

How to Say "plant" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “plant” is “planta” — use 'planta' when referring to a living organism, like a flower, tree, or herb, especially in a general biological or botanical sense.

English → Spanish

planta

PLAN-tahˈplan.ta

nounA1general
Use 'planta' when referring to a living organism, like a flower, tree, or herb, especially in a general biological or botanical sense.
A vibrant green potted houseplant with large, simple leaves resting on a surface.

Examples

Mi abuela tiene muchas plantas medicinales en su patio.

My grandmother has many medicinal plants in her yard.

Necesitas regar la planta una vez a la semana.

You need to water the plant once a week.

Gender Reminder

Even though 'planta' ends in -a, remember it is a feminine noun, so you always use 'la' or 'una' with it.

fábrica

nounA1general
Use 'fábrica' when referring specifically to a building or complex where goods are manufactured.

Examples

Mi tío trabaja en una fábrica de coches muy grande.

My uncle works in a very large car factory.

vegetal

be-he-TALbe.xeˈtal

nounA2general
Use 'vegetal' to refer to a plant as a biological organism, often in the context of food or scientific classification.
A vibrant collection of fresh vegetables including a carrot, a head of broccoli, and a red bell pepper.

Examples

Los vegetales son una parte importante de la dieta.

Vegetables are an important part of the diet.

El biólogo estudia los vegetales que crecen en el desierto.

The biologist studies the plants that grow in the desert.

Quiero un sandwich con muchos vegetales frescos.

I want a sandwich with lots of fresh vegetables.

Making it Plural

To talk about more than one, add -es to the end: 'los vegetales'.

Vegetal vs. Verdura

Mistake: “Compré muchos vegetales para la ensalada.”

Correction: While 'vegetales' is okay, native speakers often use 'verduras' when specifically talking about the vegetables they cook and eat at home.

mata

MAH-tahˈma.ta

nounA2general
Use 'mata' when referring to a specific, often cultivated, plant like a bush or a clump of flowers or vegetables.
A vibrant green, dense, round bush sitting on a patch of grassy ground under a bright blue sky, illustrated in a simple storybook style.

Examples

Necesitamos podar esa mata de rosas para que crezca mejor.

We need to prune that rose bush so it grows better.

Encontré una pequeña mata de frambuesas silvestres.

I found a small wild raspberry bush.

Las matas de trigo se veían secas bajo el sol.

The clumps of wheat looked dry under the sun.

Gender Check

Even though 'mata' ends in '-a', remember that Spanish nouns often have different gender rules. 'Mata' is feminine, so it takes feminine articles: 'la mata' or 'una mata'.

instalaciones

in-stah-lah-SYOH-nesinstalaˈsjones

nounB1general
Use 'instalaciones' to refer to the buildings or complex of buildings that house a factory, hospital, or other large institution.
A simple, colorful illustration depicting a small, functional facility, showing a main building structure connected to large, clearly visible pipes and storage tanks.

Examples

Las instalaciones del hospital son de primera clase.

The hospital facilities are first-class.

Necesitamos revisar las instalaciones eléctricas antes de abrir la tienda.

We need to check the electrical installations (system) before opening the store.

El club deportivo tiene muy buenas instalaciones para nadar.

The sports club has very good swimming facilities.

Always Plural

Even when you mean 'a facility' in English, Spanish usually uses the plural form 'instalaciones' to refer to the whole setup or complex.

Using the Singular

Mistake: “La instalación del hotel es grande.”

Correction: Las instalaciones del hotel son grandes. (Use the plural when referring to the physical space or amenities.)

Plant vs. Factory

The most common mistake is using 'planta' for a factory. Remember that 'planta' refers to a living organism (like a houseplant or tree), while 'fábrica' is specifically for a manufacturing facility.

Related Translations

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