salvajes

Salvaje is a Spanish adjective and noun used to describe things that are wild, untamed, or savage. As an adjective, it can modify landscapes (un paisaje salvaje), animals, or behavior (comportamiento salvaje). When used as a noun, salvaje or salvajes refers to a person regarded as savage or uncivilized; in historical contexts it was often employed by European observers to label Indigenous or non-European groups. In contemporary usage, referring to people as salvajes can be offensive and dehumanizing, and more precise or respectful terms are generally preferred.

Etymology and cognates: Salvaje belongs to the Romance language family and shares similarities with related words in other languages, such as French sauvage and Portuguese selvagem, which convey the sense of wildness or savagery. Its development in Spanish reflects longstanding cultural distinctions between civilization and wilderness, as expressed in everyday language and cultural discourse.

Usage in culture and discourse: The term appears in Spanish-language literature, film, music, and journalism as a descriptive or thematic element, sometimes to critique colonial gazes, explore primal or frontier motifs, or emphasize nature’s untamed power. Depending on context, salvaje can convey admiration for raw nature or condemnation of violence and cruelty.

See also: Sauvage, Selvagem, Sauvage (disambiguation).