perro

/PEH-rroh/

dog

A friendly, healthy brown and white dog sitting happily on a patch of green grass, wagging its tail.

The primary and most common meaning of perro is 'dog'.

perro(Noun)

mA1

dog

the animal

Also:

hound

more literary or for specific breeds

📝 In Action

Mi perro se llama Fido.

My dog's name is Fido.

Los perros ladran mucho por la noche.

The dogs bark a lot at night.

Saqué a pasear al perro esta mañana.

I took the dog for a walk this morning.

Word Connections

Synonyms

can (dog (more formal/literary))
chucho (mutt, mongrel (informal))

Antonyms

gato (cat)

Common Collocations

perro guardián – guard dog
perro callejero – stray dog
comida para perros – dog food

Idioms & Expressions

llevar una vida de perros – to lead a very hard or miserable life
ser el perro del hortelano – to be a dog in the manger (to not let others enjoy something you don't use or want)

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine and Feminine Forms

Like many Spanish nouns for people or animals, 'perro' is masculine. To talk about a female dog, you just change the ending to '-a': 'una perra'. The plural is 'perros' for a group of male dogs or a mixed group, and 'perras' for a group of all-female dogs.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Pronouncing the 'rr' Sound

Mistake: "Saying 'pero' with a single, soft 'r' sound, like in the English word 'butter'."

Correction: Make sure to roll or trill the 'rr' in 'perro'. The word 'pero' (with one 'r') means 'but', so getting the sound right is important to avoid confusion!

⭐ Usage Tips

Showing Affection with '-ito'

Spanish speakers love to add '-ito' to the end of words to show affection or smallness. You'll frequently hear 'perrito' to mean 'puppy' or just 'little doggie'.

A cartoonish man with a sly, untrustworthy expression, wearing a dark coat and looking over his shoulder conspiratorially, symbolizing deceit or a despicable character.

In informal contexts, perro can be used as a strong insult meaning 'jerk' or 'despicable person'.

perro(Noun)

mB2

dog

as an insult for a despicable person

Also:

jerk

insult

bastard

strong insult

📝 In Action

No confíes en él, es un perro.

Don't trust him, he's a dog/jerk.

¡Qué perro! Me mintió todo el tiempo.

What a dog! He lied to me the whole time.

Word Connections

Synonyms

canalla (scoundrel)
sinvergüenza (shameless person)

Idioms & Expressions

tratar a alguien como a un perro – to treat someone very badly or with contempt

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Feminine Form 'Perra'

Mistake: "Thinking 'perra' is a simple equivalent insult for a woman."

Correction: Be extremely careful. While 'perro' is a strong insult for a man, 'perra' is a much more offensive and vulgar insult for a woman, often with strong sexual connotations. It's best to avoid using it entirely.

⭐ Usage Tips

Context is Everything

This meaning is always clear from the angry or negative tone of the conversation. You would never use it neutrally. It's a strong insult, so use it with caution, if at all.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: perro

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'perro' to talk about a person's character?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

perrito(puppy, little dog) - noun

perrera(kennel, dog pound) - noun

perruno(canine, dog-like) - adjective

perrazo(big dog) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'perro' and 'pero'?

The only difference is the 'rr' sound, but it changes the meaning completely! 'Perro' (with a rolled 'rr') means 'dog'. 'Pero' (with a single 'r' tap) means 'but'. Practicing the 'rr' sound is key to being understood correctly.

How do I say 'puppy' in Spanish?

The most common word for puppy is 'cachorro'. You can also use the diminutive form 'perrito', which literally means 'little dog' but is often used for puppies.