Inklingo

How to Say "wild" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “wild” is “salvaje” — use 'salvaje' when referring to animals, plants, or nature that are untamed and live in their natural habitat, like a wild animal..

salvaje🔊A2

Use 'salvaje' when referring to animals, plants, or nature that are untamed and live in their natural habitat, like a wild animal.

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bravo🔊B1

Use 'bravo' to describe something untamed and powerful in nature, often referring to elements like a river or the sea, emphasizing its force.

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loco🔊B1

Use 'loco' figuratively to describe something extreme or intense, such as a wild party or being 'crazy about' something, not literal untamed nature.

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virgen🔊B1

Use 'virgen' specifically for land or areas that are untouched, pristine, and unexplored, like a wild, virgin forest.

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escapado🔊C1

Use 'escapado' to describe something that has gone beyond normal limits or is outrageously excessive, often related to prices or behavior, implying a loss of control or moderation.

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English → Spanish

salvaje

/sal-VA-he//salˈβaxe/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'salvaje' when referring to animals, plants, or nature that are untamed and live in their natural habitat, like a wild animal.
A solitary gray wolf stands on a rocky outcrop in a dense forest, looking alert and untamed.

Examples

Vimos un oso salvaje en la montaña.

We saw a wild bear in the mountain.

La costa es muy salvaje y no hay edificios.

The coast is very wild (natural) and there are no buildings.

Los caballos salvajes corren libres por la pradera.

The wild horses run free across the prairie.

Always the Same Form

Unlike many Spanish adjectives, 'salvaje' doesn't change its ending for masculine or feminine nouns. It is 'el animal salvaje' and 'la vida salvaje'.

bravo

BRAH-voh/ˈbɾaβo/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'bravo' to describe something untamed and powerful in nature, often referring to elements like a river or the sea, emphasizing its force.
A powerful, dark brown bull with large horns standing defiantly in a rugged, overgrown field, symbolizing wildness and being untamed.

Examples

Tuvimos que cruzar el río bravo, lleno de rocas y mucha corriente.

We had to cross the wild river, full of rocks and a strong current.

Cuidado con ese perro, es muy bravo y muerde.

Be careful with that dog, it is very fierce/aggressive and bites.

Describing Nature

When describing natural elements like oceans or rivers, 'bravo' emphasizes danger, roughness, or untamed power.

loco

/LOH-koh//ˈlo.ko/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'loco' figuratively to describe something extreme or intense, such as a wild party or being 'crazy about' something, not literal untamed nature.
A child passionately hugging a giant, oversized ice cream cone, illustrating being 'crazy about' something.

Examples

Estoy loco por el chocolate.

I'm crazy about chocolate.

Ella está loca por él desde que lo conoció.

She's been crazy about him since she met him.

¡La fiesta de anoche fue una cosa loca!

Last night's party was a wild thing!

virgen

/BEE-rhen//'biɾxen/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'virgen' specifically for land or areas that are untouched, pristine, and unexplored, like a wild, virgin forest.
A perfectly still, clear blue lake reflecting a snow-capped mountain peak and dense green forest, representing untouched nature.

Examples

Exploramos una selva virgen donde nunca había estado nadie.

We explored a pristine jungle where no one had ever been.

El disco duro está virgen, no tiene archivos.

The hard drive is blank; it has no files.

Agreement

As an adjective, 'virgen' must match the noun it describes in number and gender: 'una playa virgen' (a pristine beach) or 'territorios vírgenes' (pristine territories).

escapado

es-kah-PAH-doh/eskaˈpaðo/

adjectiveC1informal
Use 'escapado' to describe something that has gone beyond normal limits or is outrageously excessive, often related to prices or behavior, implying a loss of control or moderation.
A young child covered in colorful paint, spinning energetically in a room full of toys, illustrating wild behavior.

Examples

¡Qué precio tan escapado tiene ese coche!

What an outrageous price that car has!

Ese chico es un poco escapado; siempre está haciendo bromas pesadas.

That kid is a bit wild/out of control; he's always playing nasty jokes.

La fiesta se puso muy escapada después de medianoche.

The party got really wild after midnight.

Figurative Use

In this sense, 'escapado' means something has gone 'beyond the limits' or 'broken free' from normal standards, often referring to prices, behavior, or noise.

Salvaje vs. Loco

Learners often confuse 'salvaje' and 'loco'. Remember, 'salvaje' is for literal untamed nature (wild animals, wild places). 'Loco' is used figuratively for intensity (wild party, crazy about something), never for animals.

Related Translations

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