hiedra venenosa
/jedɾa benenosa/from spelling rulesfeminine
The English phrase "poison ivy" is translated into Spanish as hiedra venenosa. Wiktionary also lists yedra ponzoñosa.
Meaning: one of several ivy-like urushiol-producing plants (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| hiedra venenosa | /jedɾa benenosa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| yedra ponzoñosa | /ʝedɾa ponθoɲosa/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /ʝedɾa ponsoɲosa/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
hiedra venenosa refers to one of several ivy-like urushiol-producing plants.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of hiedra (ivy) and venenosa (poisonous).
Which one should you use?
You may also see the spelling yedra ponzoñosa. The word hiedra can also be spelled yedra in Spanish, though hiedra is more common.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because hiedra is a feminine noun, the definite article must be la and the adjective must end in -a, forming la hiedra venenosa.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word ponzoñosa is used to describe people who are spiteful or malevolent, moving the meaning of poison ivy from a botanical fact to a personality trait.
- The word hiedra is often used in Spanish poetry and literature as a symbol for an obsessive love that slowly suffocates and destroys the beloved.
- While venenosa refers to general toxicity, ponzoñosa specifically evokes the caustic or stinging nature of animal venom, such as that of a scorpion.
Examples in context
- Cuidado con la hiedra venenosa.Watch out for the poison ivy.
- La hiedra venenosa causa mucha picazón.Poison ivy causes a lot of itching.
- Vi hiedra venenosa en el jardín.I saw poison ivy in the garden.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are walking through a wooded trail.
- Elena¡No toques eso, Daniel!Don't touch that, Daniel!
- Daniel¿Es hiedra venenosa?Is it poison ivy?
- ElenaSí, es hiedra venenosa.Yes, it is poison ivy.
- DanielMenos mal que me avisaste.Good thing you warned me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “poison ivy” translations and entries hiedra venenosa, 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.
