perforar
“perforar” means “to pierce” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to pierce, to punch a hole
Also: to drill
📝 In Action
Necesito perforar estas hojas para ponerlas en la carpeta.
A2I need to punch holes in these sheets to put them in the folder.
Ella decidió perforarse las orejas en una joyería.
B1She decided to get her ears pierced at a jewelry store.
El proyectil logró perforar el blindaje del tanque.
C1The projectile managed to pierce the tank's armor.
to drill for, to bore
📝 In Action
La petrolera está perforando en el mar.
B2The oil company is drilling at sea.
Perforaron la montaña para construir la autopista.
C1They tunneled through the mountain to build the highway.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: perforar
Question 1 of 3
Which of the following is a tool used to 'perforar' paper?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'perforare', formed by 'per' (through) and 'forare' (to bore or pierce).
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'perforar' the same as 'taladrar'?
Not exactly. 'Taladrar' specifically implies using a tool called a 'taladro' (drill). 'Perforar' is more general—you can perforate something with a needle, a puncher, or a drill.
Can I use 'perforar' for a medical context?
Yes, it is often used for things like 'perforated ulcers' (úlcera perforada) or 'perforated eardrums'.
Is it a regular verb?
Yes, it follows the standard pattern for all -ar verbs in all tenses.