Inklingo
← Dictionary

pera

PEH-rah/ˈpeɾa/

pear

Also: pear tree
NounfA1
A single ripe green pear with a small leaf on its stem.

📝 In Action

Me gusta comer una pera de postre.

A1

I like to eat a pear for dessert.

Las peras están maduras y muy dulces.

A1

The pears are ripe and very sweet.

Hay que lavar bien la pera antes de comerla.

A2

The pear must be washed well before eating it.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • pera de agua – a very juicy type of pear
  • tarta de pera – pear tart
  • almíbar de pera – pear syrup

Idioms & Expressions

  • pedir peras al olmo – to ask for the impossible

speed bag, light switch

Also: bulb
NounfB1
Spain
A leather speed bag hanging from a wooden platform.

📝 In Action

El boxeador entrena cada mañana con la pera.

B1

The boxer trains every morning with the speed bag.

La pera de la lámpara se ha roto.

B1

The lamp's pull-switch is broken.

Usa la pera de goma para limpiar el polvo de la cámara.

B2

Use the rubber bulb to clean the dust off the camera.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • perilla (knob/small bulb)

Common Collocations

  • pera de boxeo – boxing speed bag
  • forma de pera – pear-shaped

the best / the limit

Also: incredible
NounfB2informal
Spain
A golden trophy with a star on it, shining brightly.

📝 In Action

¡Este nuevo videojuego es la pera!

B2

This new video game is amazing!

Mi hermano es la pera, siempre se olvida de las llaves.

B2

My brother is too much, he always forgets his keys.

Que me digas eso ahora es la pera, de verdad.

C1

You telling me that now is just the limit, honestly.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ser la pera – to be incredible/the limit

Vocabulary Collections

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: pera

Question 1 of 3

What does the phrase 'pedir peras al olmo' mean?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
peral(pear tree) — Noun
perilla(goatee / knob) — Noun
perita(little pear / preppy person (slang)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'pira', which was the plural form of 'pirum' (pear). Over time, people started using this plural word as a feminine singular word in Spanish.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: pearFrench: poireItalian: pera

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'pera' always feminine?

Yes, whether you are talking about the fruit, the boxing bag, or the slang expression, 'pera' is always a feminine noun (la pera).

What is the difference between 'pera' and 'perilla'?

'Pera' is the fruit or a pear-shaped object. 'Perilla' is a 'little pear' but is most commonly used to mean a goatee (beard) or a door knob.

Can I use 'ser la pera' in a job interview?

No, it's very informal. It's better to use words like 'excelente' or 'increíble' in formal settings.