Which one should you use?
While esto es una basura is common, you may also see the form esto es basura. Omitting the article una shifts the focus from a specific piece of trash to the quality of the substance itself. Additionally, porquería can be used to mean garbage, trash or filth.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase esto es una basura is informal. You should avoid using it in professional or formal settings when describing products or work. For a more formal way to express dissatisfaction with an artistic production like a film, you might say Esta película es muy mala.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the expression esto es basura, the omission of the article una is a common way to emphasize the inherent quality of the substance rather than a specific object.
How do you pronounce it?
/esto es una basuɾa/
Did you know?
- While basura refers to trash, the similar-sounding word porquería comes from porco, meaning 'pig'. Calling something a porquería literally links the poor quality of an object to the filth associated with pigs.
- While basura is the standard term for trash, calling a person basura is a severe moral condemnation in many Spanish-speaking cultures, shifting the meaning from 'useless' to 'immoral'.
- The word basura is etymologically linked to the act of sweeping, coming from the Latin verb verrō which means 'to sweep'.
Examples in context
- Este libro es un bodrio.This book is rubbish.
- ¡Este producto es una porquería!This product is garbage!
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are looking at a broken toy they just bought.
- DanielMira este juguete, esto es una basura.Look at this toy, this is trash.
- SofíaTienes razón, Daniel, es de muy mala calidad.You are right, Daniel, it is of very poor quality.
- DanielDebemos devolverlo a la tienda ahora.We should return it to the store now.
- SofíaSí, vamos a hacerlo.Yes, let's do it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries basura, es, esto, una, CC BY-SA 4.0.
