Inklingo
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A high quality storybook illustration of an ornate, clear glass perfume bottle with a decorative stopper, sitting on a surface. A soft, fragrant mist is depicted rising from the atomizer.

perfume

per-FOO-meh

nounmA1
perfume?scented liquid for the body,fragrance?pleasant smell
Also:scent?the quality of smelling good

📝 In Action

Compré un nuevo perfume para la fiesta.

A1

I bought a new perfume for the party.

El perfume de las flores llenó toda la habitación.

A2

The fragrance of the flowers filled the whole room.

¿Qué perfume usas? Huele delicioso.

A1

What perfume do you wear? It smells delicious.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • fragancia (fragrance)
  • aroma (aroma)
  • colonia (cologne)

Antonyms

  • hedor (stench)
  • mal olor (bad smell)

Common Collocations

  • echarse perfume – to put on perfume
  • un frasco de perfume – a bottle of perfume

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Gender Rule

Even though 'perfume' ends in '-e', it is a masculine noun. Always use 'el' or 'un' before it: 'el perfume'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender Confusion

Mistake: "La perfume es muy fuerte."

Correction: El perfume es muy fuerte. (Remember, it's masculine, so use 'el'.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Using the Verb Form

The verb form is 'perfumar' (to perfume/to scent). You can say 'perfumó la ropa' (it scented the clothes).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: perfume

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the Spanish word 'perfume'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

perfumar(to perfume, to scent) - verb
perfumería(perfumery, perfume shop) - noun
perfumado(perfumed, scented) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'perfume' pronounced differently in Latin America vs. Spain?

The pronunciation is very similar everywhere. The main difference is the 's' sound. In most of Spain, the 'c' in related words like 'fragancia' might sound like a 'th' (th-ra-GAN-thya), but 'perfume' itself is pronounced consistently as per-FOO-meh.

How do I say 'to put on perfume'?

The most common and natural way is using the reflexive verb phrase: 'echarse perfume' or 'ponerse perfume'. For example: 'Me eché perfume antes de salir' (I put on perfume before leaving).