basura
/baˈsuɾa/
The English phrase 'rubbish' can be translated into Spanish as basura.
basura refers to items of low quality.
Meaning: items of low quality (noun)
Which one should you use?
Desperdicio refers specifically to waste, while Chatarra describes scrap or junk. If you want to describe something as old, worn-out or of poor quality, you can use the slang term Cacharro. Finally, Porquería can be used informally to mean 'rubbish'.
How do you pronounce it?
/baˈsuɾa/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, calling a person basura is a severe insult that suggests they are morally bankrupt, not just useless.
- The term chatarra is used specifically for metal rubbish, but it also describes 'junk food' as comida chatarra.
- While basura is the general term for rubbish, porquería carries a stronger nuance of filth and is derived from porco, meaning 'pig'.
Examples in context
- Saca la basura a la calle.Get the rubbish out of the building.This sentence shows how to use basura when talking about taking rubbish out to the street.Tatoeba #2775258 by wallebot, translation #59453 by sundown
- ¡No tires a la basura estos documentos!Don't throw these documents in the rubbish!This sentence demonstrates using basura when telling someone not to throw documents into the rubbish.Tatoeba #1097116 by Shishir, translation #1559480 by sam_m
- Cuanto más rica una ciudad, más basura produce.The richer the city, the more rubbish it generates.This sentence illustrates the connection between a city's wealth and the amount of basura it produces.Tatoeba #1694027 by marcelostockle, translation #609976 by AlanF_US
- Este producto es un desperdicioThis product is rubbish.
- No compres eso, es una porqueríaDon't buy that, it's rubbish.
- ¡Qué porquería!What rubbish!
- Ese celular es un cacharroThat cell phone is rubbish.
- comida basuraJunk food
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and María are looking at some old clothes in a box.
- MateoEsta ropa es pura basura.This clothing is pure rubbish.
- MaríaTienes razón, es de mala calidad.You are right, it is low quality.
- MateoNo quiero guardar tanta basura.I don't want to keep so much rubbish.
- MaríaEntonces, vamos a tirarla.Then, let's throw it away.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry basura, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
