basura
/baˈsuɾa/feminine
In Spanish, the word for garbage is basura.
Basura is the most common and direct translation for garbage. Other terms may be used depending on the context: residuos translates to waste and can also be used in the context of garbage, while desperdicios refers to waste or rubbish and can be used when referring to any kind of discarded materials. For the specific location where waste is deposited, the word for landfill is vertedero.
Meaning: waste material (noun)
Which one should you use?
While basura is the standard term, porquería generally translates to junk or rubbish and can be used colloquially to refer to garbage in certain contexts. Residuos and desperdicios are more specific to various types of waste and discarded materials.
How does it change in a sentence?
Basura is a feminine noun, so it is used with the feminine article la to say 'the garbage' (la basura).
How do you pronounce it?
/baˈsuɾa/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the term basura is used as a severe moral judgment against a person, implying they are completely disposable.
- The word basura is derived from the Latin word verrō, which means 'sweep'.
- The word basurero is ambiguous because it can refer to both the person who collects the trash and the physical bin used to hold it.
Examples in context
- Tom sacó la basura.Tom threw out the garbage.This sentence shows the use of basura when talking about taking out the garbage.Tatoeba #1278893 by marcelostockle, translation #1141117 by CK
- No tires basura aquí.Don't dump garbage here.This sentence demonstrates a command not to dump basura in a specific location.Tatoeba #1426317 by marcelostockle, translation #1290714 by CK
- Lleva afuera la basura.Take the garbage out.This sentence shows how to use basura when telling someone to take the garbage out.Tatoeba #4183289 by Leono, translation #1841187 by CK
- Por favor, saca la basura.Please take out the garbage
- Deseche los desperdicios de manera responsable.Dispose of the garbage responsibly
- El reciclaje reduce la cantidad de residuos.Recycling reduces the amount of garbage
- Esta calle está llena de porquería.This street is full of garbage
- 37 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are cleaning their kitchen.
- Alejandro¿Dónde está la bolsa de la basura?Where is the garbage bag?
- LucíaEstá debajo del fregadero, Alejandro.It is under the sink, Alejandro.
- AlejandroGracias, Lucía. Voy a sacarla ahora.Thanks, Lucía. I am going to take it out now.
- LucíaPerfecto, la cocina ya está limpia.Perfect, the kitchen is clean now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “garbage” translations and entries basura, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries basura, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
