Inklingo

How to Say "turf" in Spanish

English → Spanish

hierba

/YAIR-bah//ˈjeɾ.βa/

nounA1general
Use 'hierba' for general grass or ground cover, like in a lawn or field, when it's not specifically for sports.
A lush, bright green lawn filling the foreground under a clear blue sky.

Examples

Necesito cortar la hierba del jardín este fin de semana.

I need to cut the grass in the garden this weekend.

Nos sentamos en la hierba para hacer un picnic.

We sat on the grass to have a picnic.

Always Feminine

Even though 'hierba' starts with the sound 'ye-' (a strong vowel sound), it does not take the masculine article 'el' like some other feminine nouns (e.g., el agua). It is always 'la hierba'.

Using the wrong article

Mistake: “El hierba es verde.”

Correction: La hierba es verde. (The grass is green.)

césped

nounA2specific (sports)
Choose 'césped' when referring to the grass on a sports field, like a soccer pitch or golf course.

Examples

El niño corrió descalzo sobre el césped recién cortado.

The child ran barefoot over the freshly cut grass.

territorio

/teh-ree-TOH-ryoh//te.riˈto.rjo/

nounB2figurative
Use 'territorio' when 'turf' refers to an area of influence, a domain, or a field of expertise, not a physical place.
A storybook illustration of a skilled mechanic standing confidently in a clean, organized workshop surrounded by specialized tools and gears, symbolizing their domain of expertise.

Examples

La ciencia de datos es un territorio nuevo para muchos economistas.

Data science is a new domain (or territory) for many economists.

No puedo ayudarte con eso; está fuera de mi territorio.

I can't help you with that; it's outside my area of expertise (or my turf).

Este proyecto es mi territorio exclusivo, por favor no interfieras.

This project is my exclusive domain, please don't interfere.

Using 'de'

When using 'territorio' in the figurative sense, you often link it to the area of expertise using the word 'de' (of): 'territorio de la ley' (the domain of law).

Grass vs. Territory

Learners often confuse 'hierba' and 'césped' with 'territorio'. Remember that 'hierba' and 'césped' always refer to actual grass, while 'territorio' is a figurative term for an area of influence or study.

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