Spanish for Naturalists: A Vocabulary List for Volunteers

Introduction

Natural resource volunteers may have opportunities to use Spanish in the educational programs they deliver, when collaborating on stewardship or science projects, and in unexpected emergencies.

This vocabulary list highlights the most common naturalist-related terminology a volunteer might need.

Directions – Direcciones

north – norte

south – sur

east – este

west – oeste

right – derecha

left – izquierda

up – arriba

down/below – abajo/debajo

behind – detrás

between – entre

middle/in the center – en el medio/en el centro

there/over there – allí/allá

here/over here – aquí/acá

Instructions – Instrucciones

These Spanish phrases are written using the plural you conjugation, which a leader would typically use with a group of participants.

“Listen.” – “Escuchen.”

“Watch it.” – “Obsérvenlo.”

“Feel it.” – “Siéntanlo.”

“Touch it.” – “Tóquenlo.”

“Look.” – “Miren.”

“Look up.” – “Miren hacia arriba.”

“Look down.” – “Miren hacia abajo.”

“Look to the side.” – “Miren a un lado.”

“Look over there.” – “Miren allí.”

“Smell it.” – “Huélanlo.”

“Follow me.” – “Síganme.”

Subject Pronouns – Pronombres Personales

I – yo

You – tú

You (plural) – ustedes

He/she – él/ella

They – ellos/ellas

We – nosotros/nosotras

Statements – Declaraciones

There is/are – Hay

I am – Yo soy

You are (formal) – Usted es

You are (informal) – Tú eres

You are (plural) – Ustedes son

We are – Nosotro(a)s somos

They are – Ellos/Ellas son

This is a – Este/Esta es un(a)

These are – Estos/Estas son

That is a – Ese/Esa es un(a)

Those are – Esos/Esas son

Emergency – Emergencia

These Spanish phrases are written using the formal you singular conjugation, which someone would typically use with a person they don’t know well.

“Do you need help?” – “¿Necesita ayuda?”

“Are you OK?” – “¿Está bien?”

“Are you hurt?” – “¿Está herido/a?”

“Does something hurt?” – “¿Le duele algo?”

“Do you need an ambulance?” – “¿Necesita una ambulancia?”

“Do you need water?” – ¿Necesita agua?

“Are you in danger?” – ¿Está en peligro?

“I am here to help you.” – “Estoy aquí para ayudarle.”

“Everything will be OK.” – “Todo estará bien.”

“Careful!” – “¡Cuidado!”

“Stay calm.” – “Mantenga la calma.”

“Lie down.” – “Acuéstese.”

“Bend over.” – “Agáchese.”

“Sit down.” – “Siéntese.”

“Stop!” – “¡Deténgase!”

“Take it easy.” – “Tómelo con calma.”

“Calm down.” – “Tranquilícese.”

Animals/Wildlife – Animales/Fauna silvestre

carnivore – carnívoro

herbivore – herbívoro

invertebrates – invertebrados

vertebrates - vertebrados

Anatomy/Biology – Anatomía/Biología

antler(s) – asta(s)

horn(s) – cuerno(s)

head – cabeza

eye(s) – ojo(s)

mouth – boca

tooth/teeth – diente/dientes

tusk/fang/canine teeth – colmillo(s)

ear(s) – oreja(s)

hair – pelo/cabello

feather(s) – pluma(s)

back – espalda/lomo

rump – ancas/trasero/cuarto trasero

tail – cola/rabo

leg(s) – pierna(s)/pata(s)

toe – dedos del pie/pata

hoof/hooves – pezuña/pezuñas

carcass – cadáver/cuerpo

fossil – fósil

shell (as in a turtle’s shell) – caparazón

shell (as in a seashell) – caracol/concha

mating/rut – apareamiento

gestation – gestación

birth – nacimiento

offspring/brood – cría(s)

finger(s) – dedo(s)

wing(s) – ala(s)

arm(s) – brazo(s)

claw(s) – garra(s)

tongue - lengua

thorax – tórax

abdomen – abdomen

chest/breast – pecho

neck – cuello

bill – pico

muzzle - hocico

intestines – intestinos

heart – corazón

feces – heces fecales/excretas

nose – nariz

lungs – pulmones

gills – branquias

tongs – tenazas

jaw(s) – mandíbula(s)

fin(s) – aleta(s)

burrow – madriguera

den – guarida

song – canto

call – llamada

egg – huevo

larva/larvae – larva/larvas

juvenile – juvenil

chicks – polluelos/pollitos

flock – parvada

Mammals – Mamíferos‌

deer (buck)/deer (doe) – venado/venada

white-tailed deer – venado(s) cola blanca

fawn - cervatillo

elk – wapití

bobcat –gato montés

fox/red fox/gray fox – zorra/zorro rojo/zorra gris

raccoon - mapache

skunk – zorillo

squirrel – ardilla

rabbit – conejo

opossum – tlacuache

beaver – castor

River Otter – Nutria de Río

Nutria – Coipú

bat - murciélago

bear/Black Bear - oso/Oso Negro

mouse – ratón

Woodchuck/Groundhog – Marmota Americana

human/people – humano/gente

Birds – Pájaros/Aves‌

Mourning Dove – Huilota Común

woodpecker – carpintero

duck – pato

Mallard – Pato de Collar

Great Horned Owl – Búho Cornudo

Barred Owl - Búho Barrado

Barn Owl – Lechuza de Campanario

Cooper’s hawk – Gavilán de Cooper

raptor/raptors – rapaz/aves rapaces

American Kestrel – Cernícalo Americano

pelican – pelícano

gull - gaviota

waterfowl – aves acuáticas

Wild Turkey – Guajolote Norteño

Northern Bobwhite – Codorniz Cotuí

Cardinal – Cardenal Rojo

Northern Mockingbird – Centzontle Norteño (from nahuatl “centzontotl: bird of 400 voices)

sparrow – gorrión

Loggerhead Shrike – Verdugo Americano

Black Vulture – Zopilote Común

Turkey Vulture – Zopilote Aura

Hummingbird – Colibrí

heron – garza warbler – chipe

Eastern Bluebird – Azulejo Garganta Canela

Reptiles – Reptiles‌

lizard - lagarto

skink - escíncido

snake – culebra, serpiente

turtle – tortuga

Timber Rattlesnake – Cascabel de Bandas

Eastern Copperhead – Cabeza de Cobre

Northern Cottonmouth/Water Moccasin – Boca de Algodón/Mocasin de Agua

Eastern Garter Snake – Culebra Listonada Común

Eastern Woodland Box Turtle – Tortuga de caja

Common Snapping Turtle – Tortuga Lagarto Norteña

Amphibians - Anfibios‌

frog – rana toad – sapo

salamander – salamandra

tadpole – renacuajo

American Bullfrog – Rana Toro

Wood Frog – Rana del Bosque

Spring Peeper – Rana Mirona

Primaveral Hellbender – Salamandra Gigante Norteamericana

Spotted Salamander – Moteada

Red-spotted Newt – Tritón Oriental

Fish – Peces‌

freshwater fish – peces de agua dulce

saltwater fish – peces de agua salada

minnow – piscardo

bass – lubina, cherna

trout/Brook Trout – trucha/Trucha de Arroyo

American Shad – Sábalo Americano

Bluegill – Mojarra Oreja Azul

Invertebrates

insect – insecto

spider – araña

ant – hormiga

bee – abeja

beetle – escarabajo

bumblebee - abejorro

wasp – avispa

caterpillar – oruga

butterfly/Monarch Butterfly – mariposa/Mariposa Monarca

moth – palomilla

dragonfly – caballito de diablo/libélula

ladybug – catarina

tick – garapata

cicada – chicharra

grasshopper – saltamontes/grillo

snail – caracol

crab – cangrejo

freshwater mussel – mejillón de agua dulce

Spotted Lanternfly – Chinche Linterna Manchada

worm – gusano

Plants/Plant Parts – Plantas/Piezas de Plantas

tree – árbol pine – pino

oak – encino, roble

hardwood – madera noble

Red Maple – Arce Rojo

White Oak – Encino Blanco

American Chestnut – Castaño Americano

Pawpaw – Chirimoyo de la Florida

Flowering Dogwood – Cornejo de San Pedro

milkweed – algodoncillo

Poison-ivy – Hiedra Venenosa

shrub/bush – arbusto/monte

vine – vin, parra, enredadera

forb – herbácea, hierba

grass – pasto grama

flower – flor

petal – pétalo

stem – tallo

branch - rama

leaf – hoja

trunk - tronco

tree canopy – copa del árbol

bark – corteza

Other Organisms – Otros Organismos‌

fungus/mushroom - hongo

lichen – liquen

bacteria – bacteria

microbe – microbio

virus – virus

Adjectives – Adjetivos‌

These adjectives are written in the singular form with masculine and feminine conjugations shown. Each adjective gets conjugated according to the noun it is modifying. For example, the red leaf would be “la hoja roja”, but the red worm would be “el gusano rojo”, and the red birds would be “los pájaros rojos.”

venomous – venenoso/a

poisonous – venenoso/a, tóxico/a

harmless – inocuo/a, inofensivo/a

edible – comestible

red – rojo/a

orange – anaranjado/a

yellow – amarillo/a

green – verde

blue – azul

purple – morado/a

black – negro/a

white – blanco/a

brown – marrón

striped – de rayas

spotted – con motas

common – común

rare – raro/a

native/indigenous – autóctono/a, indigeno/a

invasive – invasor

large – grande

small – pequeño/a

wet – mojado/a

dry – seco/a

sunny – soleada

shady – sombreado

aquatic – acuático/a

terrestrial – terrestre

Places/Habitats – Lugares/Hábitats

park/state park/national

park – parque/parque estatal/parque nacional

trail – sendero

nature preserve – reserva

natural forest – bosque

meadow – prado

field – campo

urban area – zona urbana

mountains - montañas

wetland – humedal

coast – costa

road – calle

vernal pool – charco primaveral, charco

temporal river – río

stream, creek – arroyo

pond – estanque

lake – lago

impoundment – embalse

shelter – refugio

riparian area – zona ribereña

dirt – tierra

soil – suelo

marsh/swamp – pantano/cienega

edge – borde

Other Useful Words/Descriptions – Otras Palabras Útiles/Descripciones‌

“I’m your interpreter.” – “Soy su intérprete.”

“It’s x wide/long/tall.” – “Mide x de ancho/largo/alto

“It weighs x.” – “Pesa x.”

“It’s running.” – “Está corriendo.”

“It’s jumping.” – “Está brincando.”

“It’s crawling.” – “Se está arrastrando.” “

It’s chasing.” – “Está persiguiendo.”

“It’s lying down.” – “Está acostado/a.”

“It’s standing up.” – “Se está poniendo de pie.”

“It’s hiding.” – “Se está escondiendo “

“It’s not moving.” – “No se está moviendo.”

“It’s leaving.” – “Se está marchando/yendo.”

“It’s back.” – “Está de regreso.”

“It’s sleeping.” – “Está durmiendo.”

“It’s resting.” – “Está descansando.”

“It’s perching.” – “Está perchando.”

“It’s flying.” – “Está volando.”

“It’s swimming.” – “Está nadando.”

“It’s walking.” – “Está caminando.”

“It’s drinking.” – “Está bebiendo”

“It’s eating.” – “Está comiendo.”

12 o’clock – doce en punto

binoculars – binoculares

feeder – comedero

waterer – bebedero

information kiosk – kiosko/puesto de información

meeting point - punto de reunión

evacuation route – ruta de evacuación

first aid kit – kit de primeros auxilios

telescope – telescopio

pamphlet, brochure – folleto

magnifying glass, loupe – lupa

book – libro

field guide – guía de campo

shoe(s) – zapato(s)

pocket – bolsillo

glasses – lentes

backpack – mochila

net – red

computer – computadora

cell phone - celular

point/tip – punto(a)

track, print – huella

Additional Resources

Audubon Guide to Birds Spanish-language website, https://www.audubon.org/es/guia-de-aves

Standard Spanish, English, and Scientific Names of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Mexico, https://ssarherps.org/wp- content/uploads/2023/07/HC-38-Spanish-English- Name-List.pdf

Spanish and English Vernacular Names of Mammals of North America, https://cibnor.repositorioinstitucional.mx/jspui/bitstr eam/1001/1599/1/PUB-ARTICULO-4041.PDF

Acknowledgements

This publication was adapted with the author’s permission from Spanish for Naturalists, created for the Texas Master Naturalist Program by Ernesto Garcia-Ortega, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2024.