🌎 Environment
In this section you'll learn useful Spanish vocabulary and everyday expressions for talking about the environment, pollution, recycling, renewable energy, and simple ways to protect nature.
🟢 Basic Environment Vocabulary
🌎 Environment → Medio ambiente
🌳 Nature → Naturaleza
♻️ Recycling → Reciclaje
💨 Pollution → Contaminación
🌡️ Climate → Clima
🗑️ Trash / Garbage → Basura
🟡 Environmental Actions
♻️ To recycle → Reciclar
🔄 To reuse → Reutilizar
📉 To reduce → Reducir
🌱 To protect → Proteger
💧 To save water → Ahorrar agua
⚡ To save energy → Ahorrar energía
🔵 Energy & Conservation Vocabulary
☀️ Solar energy → Energía solar
🌬️ Wind energy → Energía eólica
🌿 Renewable energy → Energía renovable
🌲 Forest → Bosque
🐾 Animal species → Especie animal
💧 Clean water → Agua limpia
🧠 Talking About the Environment
💡 Use hay que to express something that people generally need or ought to do.
Hay que cuidar el medio ambiente.
We need to take care of the environment.
Hay que usar menos plástico.
We need to use less plastic.
Hay que cuidar el medio ambiente.
We need to take care of the environment.
Hay que usar menos plástico.
We need to use less plastic.
💡 Use podemos when suggesting simple actions that people can take.
Podemos reutilizar estas bolsas.
We can reuse these bags.
Podemos ahorrar agua en casa.
We can save water at home.
Podemos reutilizar estas bolsas.
We can reuse these bags.
Podemos ahorrar agua en casa.
We can save water at home.
💡 Use menos and más to talk about reducing or increasing everyday habits.
Debemos producir menos basura.
We should produce less trash.
Queremos usar más energía renovable.
We want to use more renewable energy.
Debemos producir menos basura.
We should produce less trash.
Queremos usar más energía renovable.
We want to use more renewable energy.
💬 Talking About the Environment
♻️ En casa separamos el papel, el vidrio y el plástico para reciclarlos.
At home, we separate paper, glass, and plastic to recycle them.
At home, we separate paper, glass, and plastic to recycle them.
💧 Cerramos el grifo mientras nos cepillamos los dientes para ahorrar agua.
We turn off the faucet while brushing our teeth to save water.
We turn off the faucet while brushing our teeth to save water.
🌳 La contaminación del aire puede afectar tanto a las ciudades como a la naturaleza.
Air pollution can affect both cities and nature.
Air pollution can affect both cities and nature.
☀️ Cada vez más edificios utilizan energía solar para producir electricidad.
More and more buildings use solar energy to produce electricity.
More and more buildings use solar energy to produce electricity.
💬 Everyday Conversations
Recycling at home
A: ¿Dónde pongo esta botella de vidrio?
B: Ponla con las otras botellas que vamos a reciclar.
A: Where do I put this glass bottle?
B: Put it with the other bottles we're going to recycle.
A: ¿Dónde pongo esta botella de vidrio?
B: Ponla con las otras botellas que vamos a reciclar.
A: Where do I put this glass bottle?
B: Put it with the other bottles we're going to recycle.
Saving energy
A: ¿Puedes apagar la luz antes de salir?
B: Claro. No necesitamos dejarla encendida.
A: Can you turn off the light before leaving?
B: Of course. We don't need to leave it on.
A: ¿Puedes apagar la luz antes de salir?
B: Claro. No necesitamos dejarla encendida.
A: Can you turn off the light before leaving?
B: Of course. We don't need to leave it on.
📝 Example Sentences
🌲 Los voluntarios recogieron varias bolsas de basura durante la limpieza del bosque.
The volunteers collected several bags of trash during the forest cleanup.
The volunteers collected several bags of trash during the forest cleanup.
🌊 Es importante evitar que el plástico termine en los ríos y océanos.
It is important to prevent plastic from ending up in rivers and oceans.
It is important to prevent plastic from ending up in rivers and oceans.
🌡️ Los cambios en el clima pueden afectar a plantas y animales de muchas regiones.
Changes in the climate can affect plants and animals in many regions.
Changes in the climate can affect plants and animals in many regions.
💧 Durante los meses secos, intentamos usar solamente el agua que necesitamos.
During the dry months, we try to use only the water we need.
During the dry months, we try to use only the water we need.
🌬️ En esta región, el viento se utiliza para generar parte de la electricidad.
In this region, wind is used to generate part of the electricity.
In this region, wind is used to generate part of the electricity.
🔄 Antes de tirar algo, pensamos si podemos repararlo o reutilizarlo.
Before throwing something away, we think about whether we can repair or reuse it.
Before throwing something away, we think about whether we can repair or reuse it.
🏆 Final Practice
Try saying each phrase before pressing play.
- Hay que cuidar el medio ambiente.
- Podemos reciclar estas botellas.
- Tenemos que ahorrar agua.
- Debemos producir menos basura.
- La contaminación afecta al medio ambiente.
- La energía solar es renovable.