césped
/ˈθesped/
The English phrase "cesped" is translated into Spanish as césped.
Césped refers to an area of short grass that is specifically kept as a lawn.
Which one should you use?
While césped refers to a maintained lawn, the words hierba or pasto are more common when referring to grass in a general or wild sense. In many parts of Latin America, pasto is the more common term for a lawn or grass than césped.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many parts of Latin America, pasto is more commonly used than césped to describe a lawn or grass.
How does it change in a sentence?
Césped is a masculine noun, so it is used with the masculine article el (e.g., el césped).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈθesped/
Did you know?
- While césped implies a manicured surface, the word hierba can sometimes be used as a slang term for marijuana, so be careful with your pronunciation in certain contexts.
- The word césped shares a common ancestor with the English word 'caespitose', a botanical term used to describe plants that grow in dense tufts or mats.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the word pasto is used so frequently for lawns that using césped can make your speech sound overly formal or even poetic.
Examples in context
- Me encanta caminar descalzo sobre el céspedI love walking barefoot on the grass
- El césped está muy verde.The lawn is very green.
- Hay que regar el césped.The grass needs to be watered.
- El césped está recién cortado.The lawn has been recently mown.
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are standing in their backyard.
- ElenaMira qué bonito quedó el césped.Look how beautiful the lawn turned out.
- MateoSí, Mateo lo regó todas las mañanas.Yes, Mateo watered it every morning.
- ElenaGracias por cuidar el césped, Mateo.Thank you for taking care of the lawn, Mateo.
- MateoDe nada, Elena, me gusta el jardín.You're welcome, Elena, I like the garden.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry césped, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries césped, CC BY-SA 4.0.
