zarza
/ˈθaɾθa/
The English phrase "thorn bush" is translated into Spanish as zarza.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈθaɾθa/
Did you know?
- The word zarza may not have come from Latin like most Spanish words, but instead from a Paleo-Hispanic or Old Basque word çarci.
- The structure of a zarza is so dense and sharp that it is often used in Spanish-speaking rural areas as a natural, living fence to keep livestock in.
- In Spanish literature, the term zarza often appears in pastoral poetry to symbolize the difficult or prickly obstacles in a lover's path.
Examples in context
- Cuidado con el espinillo, tiene muchas espinas.Be careful with the thorn bush, it has many thorns.
- Vimos un cardonal lleno de plantas espinosas.We saw a thorny area full of prickly plants.
- La zarza tiene muchas espinas.The thorn bush has many thorns.
- Cuidado con esa zarza de ahí.Watch out for that thorn bush over there.
- El conejo se escondió en la zarza.The rabbit hid in the thorn bush.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are walking through a countryside path.
- DanielElena, no camines por ese camino.Elena, don't walk on that path.
- Elena¿Por qué, Daniel?Why, Daniel?
- DanielHay una zarza muy grande.There is a very large thorn bush.
- ElenaGracias por avisarme.Thanks for warning me.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry zarza, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries zarza, CC BY-SA 4.0.
