Matorral is a noun.
/matoˈral/
Matorral refers to a dense growth of shrubs, particularly in regions where there is little moisture. It typically characterizes dry, arid climates and is an important type of vegetation found in ecosystems like Mediterranean, desert, and semi-arid areas.
In Spanish, it is commonly used to describe areas covered by such vegetation and can imply a certain roughness or untamed nature. The term is used both in everyday conversation and in written contexts, especially in discussions about ecology, geography, and environmental sciences.
The frequency of its usage varies regionally, being more prevalent in areas with ecosystems where matorrales are common, such as parts of Spain and Latin America.
El matorral cerca de nuestra casa es un refugio para muchas aves.
The scrub near our house is a refuge for many birds.
Durante la caminata, pasamos por un denso matorral que impedía avanzar fácilmente.
During the hike, we passed through a dense thicket that made it hard to move forward.
Los biólogos estudiaron el impacto del cambio climático en el ecosistema del matorral.
Biologists studied the impact of climate change on the shrubland ecosystem.
While matorral itself is not commonly featured in well-known idiomatic expressions, there are related phrases often used in Spanish discussing nature and environments associated with wild vegetation. Here are some idiomatic expressions that include ideas of untamed or natural growth:
Hacer un matorral (to make a mess or chaos)
No dejes que el negocio se convierta en un matorral.
Don’t let the business turn into a mess.
Estar en un matorral (to be in a difficult or complicated situation)
Desde que perdí mi trabajo, estoy en un matorral financiero.
Ever since I lost my job, I am in a financial mess.
Salir del matorral (to get out of a problem)
A veces es difícil salir del matorral en que nos metemos.
Sometimes it is difficult to get out of the mess we get ourselves into.
The word matorral comes from the Latin term mānsuetus, meaning tamed. It evolved through Old Spanish as the term became associated with dense growths of wild or untamed shrubs. It is tied lexically to other words in Spanish that refer to vegetation and plant life.
Synonyms: - Arbusto (bush) - Matorrales (bushes) - Brezal (heath)
Antonyms: - Llanura (plain) - Desierto (desert) - Cultivo (crop, cultivated land)