cera

/seh-rah/

wax

A thick, colorful dripping candle on a simple wooden table.

Cera refers to the wax used to make candles.

cera(noun)

fA2

wax

general substance or candle material

Also:

beeswax

natural wax from bees

polish

wax used for floors or cars

📝 In Action

Las velas están hechas de cera.

The candles are made of wax.

Tengo que ponerle cera al suelo para que brille.

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.

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'la' with cera

Since 'cera' ends in 'a', it is a feminine word. Always use 'la' or 'una' with it.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Cera vs. Cerilla

Mistake: "Using 'cera' when you mean a matchstick."

Correction: Use 'cerilla' for the small stick you use to light a fire. Use 'cera' for the material the match might be coated in.

⭐ Usage Tips

Waxing floors vs. Waxing hair

While 'cera' is the substance, the action of removing hair is usually called 'depilación con cera'.

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

Cera can also mean earwax.

cera(noun)

fB1

earwax

substance inside the ear

Also:

cerumen

formal/medical term

📝 In Action

El niño tiene mucha cera en los oídos.

The boy has a lot of earwax in his ears.

Word Connections

Synonyms

cerumen (cerumen/earwax)

Common Collocations

tapón de cera – earwax blockage

💡 Grammar Points

Plural Use

When talking about earwax in both ears, you still usually use the singular 'cera'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Natural Sounding

In a doctor's office, you might hear 'cerumen', but in everyday life with friends or family, 'cera' is the standard word.

A clean gray stone path running alongside a green lawn.

In some regions, cera is used to mean sidewalk.

cera(noun)

fB2

sidewalk

the path for walking next to a street

Also:

pavement

British English equivalent

📝 In Action

No camines por la calle, ve por la cera.

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

Word Connections

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

calzada (roadway)

💡 Grammar Points

Shortened forms

In some dialects, words starting with 'a' often lose that first letter in casual speech. 'Acera' becomes 'cera'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Standard vs. Regional

Mistake: "Using 'cera' for sidewalk in formal writing."

Correction: In essays or formal documents, always use 'acera'. Use 'cera' only when speaking casually in regions where it's common.

✏️ 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

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'.