Spanish Conversation · Level 27
90 words
Spanish word
desierto
Pronunciation
IPA/deˈsjeɾto/
Meaning
- masculine noundesert
Example
El desierto es muy caliente durante el día.
The desert is very hot during the day.
More examples
En el desierto las noches pueden ser muy frías.
In the desert nights can be very cold.
Core concept
Barren plain of dunes and cracked earth under a wide empty sky.
Common phrases
ir al desierto
go into the desert
acampar en el desierto
camp in the desert
recorrer el desierto
traverse the desert
Similar words
oasis: Green, wet spot in a dry area where groundwater or a spring supports plants.
playa: Bank of loose sand or small stones bordering a sea, lake, or large river.
duna: Long or rounded sand hill created and moved over time by prevailing winds.
Definition in Spanish
Zona árida y extensa con poca vida vegetal o humana, caracterizada por la escasez de lluvia y un paisaje desolado.
Word origin
Derived from Latin desertum, from the verb deserere 'to leave', reflecting the idea of land left empty or abandoned.
Usage tips
- The noun is masculine (el desierto) and commonly appears with location phrases like en el desierto or el desierto de + place, while the adjective form must agree in gender and number.