Inklingo

How to Say "timber" in Spanish

English → Spanish

madera

mah-DEH-rah/maˈðeɾa/

nounA1general
Use 'madera' when referring to wood that has been cut and processed for use in building, furniture, or other crafted items.
A close-up view of several smooth, brown wooden planks stacked neatly on top of each other.

Examples

La mesa de mi cocina es de madera maciza.

The table in my kitchen is made of solid wood.

Necesitamos más madera para hacer la fogata.

We need more wood to make the bonfire.

El suelo de la sala tiene un hermoso acabado de madera clara.

The living room floor has a beautiful light wood finish.

Gender Check

Remember that 'madera' is a feminine noun, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it, even though many Spanish nouns ending in -a are masculine (like 'el problema').

Mixing Material and Tree

Mistake: “Usar 'la madera' para referirse a un árbol ('I saw a tall madera').”

Correction: Use 'el árbol' for the living plant and 'la madera' for the material cut from it. 'Vi un árbol alto' (I saw a tall tree).

árboles

nounA1general
Use 'árboles' when referring to trees themselves, not the processed wood product. This is an uncommon way to translate 'timber' unless you are speaking metaphorically about the source.

Examples

En otoño, los árboles pierden sus hojas.

In autumn, the trees lose their leaves.

Madera vs. Árboles

The most common mistake is using 'árboles' (trees) when you mean 'madera' (wood). Remember that 'timber' in English usually refers to the processed wood, making 'madera' the more appropriate translation in most contexts.

Related Translations

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