Inklingo

How to Say "raw" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “raw” is “bruto” — use 'bruto' when referring to a salary or materials that are in their basic, unprocessed, or 'gross' state before deductions or further refinement..

English → Spanish

bruto

/broo-toh//ˈbɾuto/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'bruto' when referring to a salary or materials that are in their basic, unprocessed, or 'gross' state before deductions or further refinement.
A large, overflowing wooden crate filled to the top with bright red apples.

Examples

Mi salario bruto es de dos mil euros.

My gross salary is two thousand euros.

La empresa exporta diamantes en bruto.

The company exports rough (uncut) diamonds.

Placement

In finance, 'bruto' almost always comes after the word it describes, like 'salario bruto'.

Gross as Disgusting

Mistake: “Using 'bruto' to mean 'yucky' or 'disgusting'.”

Correction: In Spanish, 'bruto' is for math or totals. If something is disgusting, use 'asco' or 'asqueroso'.

verde

/BEHR-deh//ˈbeɾðe/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'verde' specifically for food items that are uncooked, unripe, or not yet ready to be eaten.
A small, firm, light green banana still attached to the plant, indicating it is unripe.

Examples

No puedes comer esas fresas; todavía están muy verdes.

You can't eat those strawberries; they are still very unripe.

Es un empleado nuevo y todavía está un poco verde en el puesto.

He is a new employee and is still a bit green/inexperienced in the position.

Bruto vs. Verde

Learners often confuse 'bruto' and 'verde' by using 'bruto' for uncooked food. Remember, 'bruto' refers to a state of being unprocessed or 'gross' (like salary), while 'verde' is specifically for food that is not cooked or ripe.

Related Translations

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