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A storybook illustration showing three brightly colored tropical fish swimming together underwater near vibrant green seaweed.

peces

PEH-sehs

nounmA1
fish?plural form of the animal living in the water
Also:sea creatures?general or figurative use

📝 In Action

Hay muchos peces de colores en el acuario.

A1

There are many colorful fish in the aquarium.

Vimos peces nadando cerca de la orilla.

A1

We saw fish swimming near the shore.

Los peces pequeños se esconden de los grandes.

A2

Small fish hide from big ones.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • animales marinos (sea animals)

Common Collocations

  • pescar peces – to catch fish
  • un banco de peces – a school of fish

Idioms & Expressions

💡 Grammar Points

The Z to C Rule

When a Spanish word ends in 'z' (like 'pez'), you must change the 'z' to a 'c' before adding '-es' to make it plural. This is only to keep the sound consistent!

Masculine Plural

Since the singular 'pez' is masculine, 'peces' remains masculine. Use masculine articles and adjectives: 'los peces grandes' (the big fish).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Incorrect Pluralization

Mistake: "Muchos pezes"

Correction: Muchos peces. Remember to switch the 'z' to 'c' when forming the plural.

⭐ Usage Tips

The Pez vs. Pescado Difference

'Peces' refers to the living animal swimming in the water. If the fish has been caught and is ready to be eaten, you should use 'pescados' (or 'pescado' for the singular food).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: peces

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'peces'?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'peces' and 'pescados'?

'Peces' (plural of pez) refers to the live animal swimming in the water (like in an ocean or aquarium). 'Pescados' (plural of pescado) refers to fish that have been caught and are prepared as food.

How do I pronounce 'peces'?

In Spain, the 'c' sounds like the 'th' in 'think' (PEH-thes). In most of Latin America, the 'c' sounds like a regular 's' (PEH-ses).