Inklingo

How to Say "wilderness" in Spanish

English → Spanish

naturaleza

nah-too-rah-LEH-sah/na.tu.ɾaˈle.sa/

nounA1general
Use 'naturaleza' when referring to the natural world, undeveloped areas, or the concept of nature in general, often in a positive or neutral context.
A vibrant storybook illustration of a lush natural landscape featuring rolling green hills, a winding blue river, and a single brown deer standing near the water's edge.

Examples

Me encanta caminar por la naturaleza para relajarme.

I love walking through nature to relax.

Debemos proteger la naturaleza de la contaminación.

We must protect nature from pollution.

El documental era sobre la belleza de la naturaleza amazónica.

The documentary was about the beauty of Amazonian nature.

Always Use 'La'

Since 'naturaleza' is an abstract noun used in a general sense, you almost always need to use the feminine article 'la' before it, even when English doesn't use 'the'.

Missing the Article

Mistake: “Me gusta naturaleza.”

Correction: Me gusta la naturaleza. (When talking about nature in general, Spanish requires 'la'.)

selva

/sel-vah//ˈselβa/

nounB2general, figurative
Use 'selva' when referring to a dense, tropical forest, or metaphorically, a chaotic or dangerous environment where only the strongest survive, like a 'concrete jungle'.
An extremely dense jungle environment where thick, tangled vines and overgrown bushes block a narrow, barely visible path, emphasizing chaos and difficulty.

Examples

La ciudad se convirtió en una selva de cemento donde solo sobreviven los más fuertes.

The city turned into a concrete jungle where only the strongest survive.

El mercado financiero es una selva; hay que tener cuidado con las inversiones.

The financial market is a jungle; you have to be careful with investments.

Figurative Use

This meaning uses 'selva' to compare a difficult situation (like a competitive office or a big city) to a literal jungle.

Nature vs. Concrete Jungle

Learners often confuse 'naturaleza' and 'selva'. Remember that 'naturaleza' is the general term for nature, while 'selva' specifically means a dense forest or, metaphorically, a chaotic, survival-of-the-fittest situation.

Related Translations

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