How to Say "primitive" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “primitive” is “primitivo” — B1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Las herramientas primitivas eran de piedra.
Primitive tools were made of stone.
Vivían en una cabaña muy primitiva sin agua corriente.
They lived in a very primitive cabin without running water.
El estado primitivo de la selva ha sido preservado.
The original state of the jungle has been preserved.
Matching Gender
This word changes its ending to 'primitiva' when describing feminine words like 'herramienta' (tool) or 'época' (era).
Positioning with Nouns
Usually, 'primitivo' comes after the noun it describes, like 'el arte primitivo', to identify a specific category.
Using it for 'Prime'
Mistake: “Using 'primitivo' for 'prime numbers'.”
Correction: Use 'números primos' instead. 'Primitivo' refers to age or simplicity, not math categories.
Other Meanings of “primitivo”
“primitivo” can also mean:
- an artist belonging to a non-industrialized society(C1, formal)
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.