par
“par” means “pair” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
pair
Also: couple
📝 In Action
Necesito comprar un par de calcetines.
A1I need to buy a pair of socks.
Dame un par de minutos y estoy listo.
A2Give me a couple of minutes and I'll be ready.
Lo he visto un par de veces esta semana.
B1I've seen him a couple of times this week.
even
📝 In Action
El número 8 es un número par.
A2The number 8 is an even number.
Los días pares del mes tengo clase de yoga.
B1On the even days of the month, I have yoga class.
peer
Also: equal
📝 In Action
El director lo trataba como a un par, no como a un empleado.
B2The director treated him as a peer, not as an employee.
Su talento no tiene par en el mundo de la música.
C1Her talent has no equal in the world of music.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: par
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'par' to mean an 'even number'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word 'par', which means 'equal'. You can see how this one idea of 'equal' connects to all its meanings: a 'pair' has two equal items, an 'even' number can be split into two equal parts, and a 'peer' is someone who is your equal.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'un par' and 'una pareja'?
Great question! 'Un par' is very general and can be used for any two things, like 'un par de zapatos' (a pair of shoes) or 'un par de ideas' (a couple of ideas). 'Una pareja' is more specific. It's most often used for two people in a relationship ('a couple') or two people who work together ('partners'), like 'una pareja de baile' (a dance couple).
How do I say 'odd number'?
The opposite of 'par' (even) is 'impar' (odd). So you would say 'un número impar'. For example, 'Siete es un número impar' (Seven is an odd number).