Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| vertedero | /beɾteˈdeɾo/ | masculine |
| basural | /basuˈɾal/ | masculine |
| basurero | /basuˈɾeɾo/ | masculine |
| botadero | /botaˈdeɾo/ | masculine |
| tiradero | /tiɾadeɾo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
In Spanish, multiple words are used to describe a place where garbage is kept or disposed of, ranging from technical terms for landfills to colloquial terms for a dumping ground. Related verbs include volcar for copying or dumping data, and tirar a la basura, arrojar or verter for the act of discarding or getting rid of something.
What does it mean word for word?
The word basural literally means a "garbage place", as it is formed from basura (garbage) and the suffix -al, which denotes a place or collection.
Which one should you use?
Vertedero is a technical term specifically for a landfill or waste disposal site. Tiradero is an informal way to describe a dumping ground. While basurero can mean a dump, it is also the standard word for a garbage bin or a garbage man, depending on the context.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Botadero is a common term for a dump in many Latin American countries and is derived from the verb botar (to throw away).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
All provided forms for "dump" are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/beɾteˈdeɾo/
Did you know?
- The word basura descends from the Latin word verrō, which means 'to sweep'.
- The suffix -al in basural is used to create nouns that describe a place where something is abundant, similar to how it is used in maizal for a cornfield.
- The word basurero is an example of a noun that can refer to the place where waste is kept, the container used to hold it and the person whose job it is to collect it.
Examples in context
- La banda se reunió en el basurero de la ciudad.The gang met up at the city dump.This sentence shows the use of basurero to describe a location.Tatoeba #5134081 by albrusgher, translation #3405638 by Theocracy
- Hoy aparecieron tres pianos de cola en el vertedero municipal.Today three grand pianos appears at the municipal dump.This sentence demonstrates the use of vertedero for a municipal dump.Tatoeba #10276405 by Seael, translation #10614181 by sangelo
- Vivir en este vertedero infecto no puede ser muy bueno para la salud.Living in this infested dump can't be healthy.This sentence illustrates how vertedero can describe an undesirable or unhygienic location.Tatoeba #10534447 by Seael, translation #10614189 by sangelo
- El gobierno construyó un nuevo basurero en las afueras de la ciudad.The government built a new dump on the outskirts of the city.
- Necesitamos implementar medidas para reducir la basura en los vertederos.We need to implement measures to reduce waste in landfills.
- No quiero vivir cerca de un basural.I don't want to live near a dump.
- Ese terreno abandonado se convirtió en un tiradero de basura.That abandoned piece of land turned into a dump site.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are discussing where to take some old furniture.
- MateoTengo que llevar estos muebles al vertedero.I have to take this furniture to the dump.
- LucíaEl vertedero está muy lejos de aquí.The dump is very far from here.
- MateoLo sé, pero no puedo dejarlos en la calle.I know, but I can't leave them on the street.
- LucíaEstá bien, yo te acompaño en el coche.Alright, I will go with you in the car.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dump” translations and entries vertedero, basural, basurero, botadero, tiradero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries basural, basurero, botadero, tiradero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
