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cera

seh-rah/ˈseɾa/

wax

Also: beeswax, polish
NounfA2
A thick, colorful dripping candle on a simple wooden table.

📝 In Action

Las velas están hechas de cera.

A1

The candles are made of wax.

Tengo que ponerle cera al suelo para que brille.

A2

I have to put wax on the floor so it shines.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • parafina (paraffin)

Common Collocations

  • cera de abejas – beeswax
  • figura de cera – wax figure

Idioms & Expressions

  • dar cera – To scold someone or to work/move very fast (common in Spain).
  • no tener cera en los oídos – To be very attentive or to listen carefully.

earwax

Also: cerumen
NounfB1
A close-up of a cotton swab with a small amount of yellow wax on the tip.

📝 In Action

El niño tiene mucha cera en los oídos.

B1

The boy has a lot of earwax in his ears.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cerumen (cerumen/earwax)

Common Collocations

  • tapón de cera – earwax blockage

sidewalk

Also: pavement
NounfB2informal
PhilippinesSpain
A clean gray stone path running alongside a green lawn.

📝 In Action

No camines por la calle, ve por la cera.

B2

Don't walk in the street, use the sidewalk.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • acera (sidewalk)
  • vereda (path/sidewalk (Latin America))

Antonyms

  • calzada (roadway)

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: cera

Question 1 of 2

Which of these is the most common meaning of 'cera'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
encerar(to wax) — Verb
cerilla(matchstick) — Noun
cerería(candle shop) — Noun
cerumen(earwax (medical)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
esperamaderamanguera
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'cera', which referred to the substance produced by bees.

First recorded: 12th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: cerePortuguese: ceraItalian: cera

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'cera' the same as 'cerilla'?

Not exactly. 'Cera' is the material (wax), while 'cerilla' is a matchstick used to start a fire.

How do I say 'earwax' specifically?

You can say 'cera de los oídos' or the more medical term 'cerumen'.