Inklingo

How to Say "wild" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “wild” is “salvaje” — use 'salvaje' for animals, plants, or natural environments that are untamed and not domesticated or cultivated.

salvaje🔊A2

Use 'salvaje' for animals, plants, or natural environments that are untamed and not domesticated or cultivated.

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silvestre🔊B1

Use 'silvestre' for plants and flowers that grow naturally in the wild without human cultivation.

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bravo🔊B1

Use 'bravo' to describe untamed nature, especially bodies of water with strong currents or rough conditions.

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loco🔊B1

Use 'loco' to describe things or events that are crazy, absurd, or extremely exciting, like a party or a feeling.

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delirio🔊B1

Use 'delirio' to refer to an event that is incredibly chaotic, overwhelming, or out of control.

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enloquecido🔊B2

Use 'enloquecido' for people or things that are acting out of control, often due to strong emotion or physical force.

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virgen🔊B1

Use 'virgen' to describe land or a place that is untouched, pristine, and has not been explored or developed.

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escapado🔊C1

Use 'escapado' to describe actions or situations that are outrageous, excessive, or out of bounds, particularly regarding prices or behavior.

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English → Spanish

salvaje

sal-VA-hesalˈβaxe

adjectiveA2general
Use 'salvaje' for animals, plants, or natural environments that are untamed and not domesticated or cultivated.
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'.

silvestre

seel-BESS-trehsilˈbestɾe

adjectiveB1general
Use 'silvestre' for plants and flowers that grow naturally in the wild without human cultivation.
A cluster of colorful wildflowers growing naturally in a lush green meadow.

Examples

Me encanta recoger flores silvestres en primavera.

I love picking wildflowers in the spring.

Las fresas silvestres son mucho más pequeñas que las del supermercado.

Wild strawberries are much smaller than the ones from the supermarket.

En esta zona viven muchos gatos silvestres.

Many feral cats live in this area.

One form for both genders

This word doesn't change its ending for masculine or feminine nouns. You can say 'un árbol silvestre' or 'una planta silvestre'.

Plural form

To make it plural, just add '-es' to the end: 'bosques silvestres'.

Avoid 'silvestra'

Mistake: “La flor silvestra.”

Correction: La flor silvestre. (Adjectives ending in 'e' usually stay the same for both genders).

bravo

BRAH-vohˈbɾaβo

adjectiveB1general
Use 'bravo' to describe untamed nature, especially bodies of water with strong currents or rough conditions.
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-kohˈlo.ko

adjectiveB1general
Use 'loco' to describe things or events that are crazy, absurd, or extremely exciting, like a party or a feeling.
A child passionately hugging a giant, oversized ice cream cone, illustrating being 'crazy about' something.

Examples

¡Qué fiesta tan loca!

What a wild party!

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!

delirio

deh-LEE-ryohdeˈliɾjo

nounB1informal
Use 'delirio' to refer to an event that is incredibly chaotic, overwhelming, or out of control.
A whimsical scene where a fish is flying through the sky and a bird is swimming underwater.

Examples

¡Esa fiesta fue un delirio total!

That party was total madness!

Es un delirio pensar que podemos viajar mañana sin maletas.

It's nonsense to think we can travel tomorrow without suitcases.

Su amor por ese cantante es un auténtico delirio.

Her love for that singer is a real craze.

Using 'ser' with Delirio

When you want to say something is 'crazy' or 'nonsense', use 'Es un delirio'.

Too Heavy?

Mistake: “Esa película es un delirio (when you just mean it was slightly confusing).”

Correction: Use 'delirio' for something truly over-the-top or nonsensical. For small things, 'una tontería' is better.

enloquecido

en-lo-keh-SEE-dohenlo-ke-ˈθi-ðo

adjectiveB2general
Use 'enloquecido' for people or things that are acting out of control, often due to strong emotion or physical force.
A wild-eyed cartoon character with messy hair and wide eyes, jumping energetically with arms flailing.

Examples

El hombre, enloquecido por el dolor, empezó a gritar.

The man, crazed by pain, began to scream.

La multitud enloquecida derribó las vallas del concierto.

The wild crowd tore down the concert fences.

Llevaba un ritmo de trabajo enloquecido.

He was keeping up a frantic work pace.

Matching the Noun

Since this is an adjective, the ending must change to match what you are describing: 'enloquecido' (man), 'enloquecida' (woman), 'enloquecidos' (men/mixed group), or 'enloquecidas' (women).

Use with 'Estar'

When describing someone's current state of being frantic or wild, use the verb 'estar' (to be) rather than 'ser'.

Confusing with 'Loco'

Mistake: “Using 'enloquecido' for a fun, silly situation.”

Correction: Use 'loco' for 'crazy' in a general sense. 'Enloquecido' implies a much more intense, frantic, or even tragic loss of control.

virgen

BEE-rhen'biɾxen

adjectiveB1general
Use 'virgen' to describe land or a place that is untouched, pristine, and has not been explored or developed.
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-doheskaˈpaðo

adjectiveC1informal
Use 'escapado' to describe actions or situations that are outrageous, excessive, or out of bounds, particularly regarding prices or behavior.
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.

Wild Animals vs. Wild Plants

Learners often confuse 'salvaje' and 'silvestre'. Remember that 'salvaje' is broader and applies to untamed animals and nature in general, while 'silvestre' specifically refers to plants growing naturally without human intervention.

Related Translations

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