guardabosques
/ɡwaɾdaboskes/from spelling rulesfeminine, masculine
The English word 'ranger' can be translated into Spanish as guardabosques. Wiktionary also lists alimañero and guardaparque.
Meaning: keeper, guardian, or soldier who ranges over a region (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| guardabosques | /ɡwaɾdaboskes/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, masculine |
| alimañero | /alimaˈɲeɾo/ | masculine |
| guardaparque | /ɡwaɾdaˈpaɾke/ | feminine, masculine |
| guardacaza | /ɡwaɾdakaθa/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /ɡwaɾdakasa/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| montaraz | /montaˈɾaθ/ /montaˈɾas/ |
masculine |
| montanero | /montaneɾo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| guardabosque | /ɡwaɾdaboske/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, masculine |
| rányer | /ranʝeɾ/ (from spelling rules) | US, common gender |
The term refers to a keeper, guardian or soldier who ranges over a region.
What does it mean word for word?
The word guardabosques is a compound of guarda (guard) and bosques (forests), literally meaning 'forest guard'.
Which one should you use?
Use guardabosques specifically for a forest ranger, whereas guardaparque refers more broadly to a park ranger.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form rányer is a phonetic anglicism used in certain US Spanish-speaking communities.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word guardabosques is invariable in number. The form remains the same for both singular and plural (el guardabosques, los guardabosques).
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡwaɾdaboskes/
Did you know?
- The term alimañero describes a ranger who specifically hunts 'vermin' or 'pest' animals such as rats and foxes.
- While guardabosques describes a profession, the term montaraz can also describe a person who is 'wild' or 'uncivilized'.
- The word guardacaza focuses specifically on the prevention of illegal poaching rather than general land management.
Examples in context
- Necesito contactar al guardabosques del parque nacional.I need to contact the ranger of the national park.
- Me encontré con un guardaparques durante mi caminata por el bosque.I came across a ranger during my hike in the forest.
- El patrullero del parque me ayudó a encontrar el sendero correcto.The park ranger helped me find the right trail.
- Los vigilantes forestales están comprometidos con la protección del entorno natural.The forest rangers are committed to protecting the natural environment.
- El guardabosques vigila el sendero.The forest ranger monitors the trail.
- Ella trabaja como guardabosques en este parque.She works as a forest ranger in this park.
- Necesitamos hablar con el guardabosques.We need to speak with the forest ranger.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are at a national park entrance.
- Lucía¿Dónde está el guardabosques?Where is the forest ranger?
- AlejandroÉl está revisando el mapa allí.He is checking the map over there.
- LucíaEspero que el guardabosques sea amable.I hope the forest ranger is kind.
- AlejandroSeguro que sí, Lucía.I am sure he is, Lucía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ranger” translations and entries guardabosques, alimañero, guardaparque, guardacaza, montaraz, guardabosque, 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.
