How to Say "trash" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “trash” is “basura” — use 'basura' for general household waste or garbage that you would put out on the curb. It can also refer to something of very poor quality, like a bad movie.
basura
ba-SOO-rabaˈsuɾa
Examples
Por favor, saca la basura.
Please, take out the trash.
El camión de la basura pasa los martes por la mañana.
The garbage truck comes on Tuesday mornings.
No tires basura en el parque.
Don't throw litter in the park.
Esta película es basura, no pierdas tu tiempo.
This movie is rubbish, don't waste your time.
Always Feminine
Remember that 'basura' is a feminine word, so you'll always use 'la basura' or 'una basura', never 'el' or 'un'.
Describing People and Things
To say something or someone 'is trash', you use the structure 'ser una basura'. For example, 'El programa es una basura' (The show is trash).
Using 'Estar' instead of 'Ser'
Mistake: “Él está una basura.”
Correction: Él es una basura. Use 'ser' because you're describing someone's character or the essential quality of a thing, not a temporary state.
porquería
Examples
No compres ese teléfono, es una porquería.
Don't buy that phone, it's a piece of junk.
caca
KAH-kahˈkaka
Examples
Esta película es una caca.
This movie is crap.
Mi teléfono nuevo es una caca, no funciona bien.
My new phone is junk; it doesn't work well.
Todo lo que venden en esa tienda es una caca.
Everything they sell in that store is trash.
Using 'Una'
When using this word to mean 'crap' or 'garbage', we almost always put 'una' before it: 'Es una caca'.
Confusion with 'Mierda'
Mistake: “Calling something 'caca' in a formal meeting.”
Correction: Use 'de mala calidad' instead. While 'caca' is less offensive than 'mierda', it's still very childish slang.
escoria
ehs-KOH-ryahesˈko.ɾja
Examples
Esa gente que roba a los pobres es la escoria de la sociedad.
Those people who steal from the poor are the scum of society.
No quiero tener nada que ver con esa escoria.
I don't want anything to do with that lowlife (or trash).
Feminine Insult
Even when you use 'escoria' to talk about a man or a mixed group, the word itself remains feminine: 'Él es una escoria' (He is scum).
Gender Misunderstanding
Mistake: “Using the word as masculine when referring to a man: 'Él es un escorio.'”
Correction: The word 'escoria' is a feminine noun regardless of the person's gender: 'Él es una escoria.' This happens because you are calling the person a 'piece of trash' (the waste material).
Confusing Garbage with Insults
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