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selva

jungle

noun SEL-bah Rare

Origin: Latin silva ('forest').

Also means

rainforest

Usage Note

Selva specifically denotes a dense tropical or subtropical jungle (often called selva tropical), distinguishing it from bosque ('forest' in general) and jungla (a more recent borrowing also used for 'jungle', especially in Spain). La Amazonia is frequently called la selva amazónica. In figurative use, la selva de cemento ('the concrete jungle') is a common urban metaphor.

Examples

"Los exploradores se perdieron en la selva."

Natural Translation

The explorers got lost in the jungle.

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