Spanish Conversation · Level 54
75 words
Spanish word
selva
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈselβa/
Meaning
- feminine nounjungle
Example
Vamos a la selva este verano.
We're going to the jungle this summer.
More examples
En la selva amazónica, llueve casi todos los días.
In the Amazonian rainforest, it rains almost every day.
Core concept
Impenetrable rainforest of tangled trees, vines, and dense undergrowth.
Common phrases
selva tropical
tropical rainforest
selva amazónica
Amazonian rainforest
Similar words
jungla: Very dense tropical or subtropical growth of trees, vines, and underbrush forming a tangled maze.
bosque: Extensive area of trees forming a forested landscape with a clearer understory and walkable paths.
selva tropical: Hot, humid tropical rainforest that covers wide areas and supports exceptional biodiversity.
Definition in Spanish
Bosque muy denso propio de regiones cálidas y húmedas; en uso figurado, lugar caótico o muy poblado (p. ej. 'selva de asfalto').
Word origin
Derived from Latin silva 'forest', with Spanish vowel evolution to selva, keeping the sense of a wet, densely vegetated forest and later also a metaphor for crowded places.
Usage tips
- In Spanish, selva usually denotes a tropical, humid forest; use bosque for general or temperate forests.
Other meanings
- rainforestnoun
Opposites
- desiertodesertnoun
Related words
- selváticojungle-dwellingadjective