feria
/FEH-ree-ah/
fair
Feria as a public festival or celebration, often featuring rides like a Ferris wheel.
feria(noun)
fair
?public festival or celebration
,carnival
?amusement park or traveling show
fiesta
?regional celebration
,funfair
?rides and games
📝 In Action
Todos los años vamos a la feria del pueblo en agosto.
A2Every year we go to the town fair in August.
Me encantan las atracciones de la feria, especialmente la rueda gigante.
B1I love the rides at the carnival, especially the Ferris wheel.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Remember that 'feria' is always treated as a feminine word, so you must use 'la feria' or 'una feria'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Use
In many parts of Spain (especially Andalusia), 'la feria' refers to major annual celebrations lasting several days, like the famous Feria de Sevilla.
Feria referring to a trade fair or business exhibition where deals are made.
📝 In Action
Estaremos presentando nuestro nuevo producto en la feria de tecnología la próxima semana.
B1We will be presenting our new product at the technology trade fair next week.
La feria del libro atrajo a miles de visitantes internacionales.
B2The book exhibition attracted thousands of international visitors.
⭐ Usage Tips
Specific Topic
When used in this way, 'feria' is almost always followed by 'de' and the specific topic (e.g., 'feria de arte', 'feria de alimentación').
Feria used to mean an outdoor or weekly produce market.
feria(noun)
market
?outdoor or weekly produce market
market stall
?individual selling point at a market
📝 In Action
Voy a la feria a comprar fruta fresca y verduras orgánicas.
B1I'm going to the market to buy fresh fruit and organic vegetables.
La feria se pone todos los sábados en la plaza central.
B1The market is set up every Saturday in the central square.
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Noun
If you hear this word in Chile or Argentina, it almost certainly means the outdoor produce market, not a carnival.
In some contexts, feria is slang for money or cash.
📝 In Action
¿Tienes suficiente feria para el taxi?
C1Do you have enough cash for the taxi?
Necesito hacer mucha feria para comprar esa moto.
C2I need to make a lot of dough (money) to buy that motorcycle.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Context is Key
Mistake: "Using 'feria' to mean money in Spain or formal settings."
Correction: This meaning is restricted to specific regions and very casual talk. Use 'dinero' or 'efectivo' instead in formal contexts.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: feria
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'feria' in its most formal, business context?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'feria' mean both 'festival' and 'market'?
Historically, festivals (holidays) often included large temporary markets where people gathered to trade goods. The meaning evolved slightly differently across regions: in Spain, it emphasizes the celebration; in parts of Latin America, it emphasizes the market aspect.
Is 'feria' for 'money' used everywhere?
No. The meaning of 'feria' as 'money' or 'cash' is regional slang, mostly found in Central America. If you use it outside of those areas, people will likely assume you mean 'festival' or 'market'.