medio ambiente
nounCEFR B1
What does “medio ambiente” mean in English?
the environment
the environment (the natural world of air, water, soil and living things — el medio ambiente, proteger el medio ambiente)
Example sentences
Proteger el medio ambiente es una responsabilidad compartida que requiere la colaboración de gobiernos, empresas y ciudadanos.
Protecting the environment is a shared responsibility that requires the collaboration of governments, companies and citizens.
El impacto medioambiental de nuestra dieta es mayor de lo que pensamos, especialmente si incluye mucha carne roja.
The environmental impact of our diet is greater than we think, especially if it includes a lot of red meat.
Las leyes de protección del medio ambiente han mejorado mucho en las últimas décadas, aunque queda mucho por hacer.
Environmental protection laws have improved a lot in recent decades, although there is still much to do.
How to use it
El medio ambiente means 'the environment' — the natural world of air, water, soil, and living things that surrounds us. It is a compound noun (two words, both always present) and is masculine: el medio ambiente. The adjective is medioambiental (environmental): impacto medioambiental, política medioambiental. This is the core term for all environmental discussion at B1 and above.
Common mistake
The compound is always written as two separate words: el medio ambiente, not *el medioambiente (though medioambiental as an adjective is one word). It is always masculine (el, not la). English speakers sometimes say *el ambiente for 'the environment' but el ambiente actually means 'the atmosphere' or 'the vibe' in most contexts — medio ambiente is the correct environmental term.