Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| vertedero | /beɾteˈdeɾo/ | masculine |
| relleno sanitario | /reʝeno sanitaɾjo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| basural | /basuˈɾal/ | masculine |
| basurero | /basuˈɾeɾo/ | masculine |
All these terms refer to a site at which refuse is buried. When you need to describe the action of disposing of waste, you can use the verbs depositar or enterrar.
What does it mean word for word?
The word vertedero comes from the verb verter, which means 'to pour' or 'to spill', suggesting a site where things are poured.
Which one should you use?
Vertedero is a general term for a landfill. In contrast, relleno sanitario specifically refers to a sanitary landfill. While basural can mean landfill, it often implies an unregulated or messy garbage dump. Finally, basurero is a colloquial term that can mean a landfill, but it most commonly refers to a trash can or a garbage collector.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the term tiradero is used to mean a dump or dumpsite. In some Latin American countries, basural is used to mean landfill. In Spain, the specific term escombrera is used for sites where construction and demolition waste is deposited.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
All the provided forms for landfill are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/beɾteˈdeɾo/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word basura meaning 'garbage' is a descendant of the Latin word verrō, which refers to the act of sweeping.
- The term relleno sanitario contains the word relleno, which literally means 'filling' or 'stuffing', as in a stuffed crust pizza or a cake filling.
- The word basurero can refer to the place where trash is kept, the container used for it, or the person whose job it is to collect the waste.
Examples in context
- Aconsejan a la gente separar los diferentes tipos de residuos, pero luego los arrojan todos al mismo vertedero.They advise people to separate out different types of waste, but then they throw it all into the same landfill.This sentence shows how waste might be thrown into the same vertedero despite advice to separate it.Tatoeba #10282612 by saverius, translation #10614190 by sangelo
- El vertedero es una opción de gestión de residuos sólidos urbanosThe landfill is an option for municipal solid waste management
- El relleno sanitario cumple con todas las normativas ambientalesThe landfill complies with all environmental regulations
- Los desechos se depositan en el basureroThe waste is deposited in the landfill
- El vertedero está lleno de plástico.The landfill is full of plastic.
- No deberías tirar basura cerca del vertedero.You shouldn't throw trash near the landfill.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are discussing environmental news.
- JavierLeí que el vertedero local va a cerrar.I read that the local landfill is going to close.
- Sofía¿De verdad? Eso será un gran problema para la ciudad.Really? That will be a big problem for the city.
- JavierSí, Sofía, no sé dónde llevarán los residuos ahora.Yes, Sofía, I don't know where they will take the waste now.
- SofíaTendrán que buscar un nuevo vertedero rápidamente.They will have to find a new landfill quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “landfill” translations and entries vertedero, basural, basurero, 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, relleno, sanitario, vertedero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
