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prenda

PREN-dah/ˈpɾenda/

garment

Also: article of clothing, piece
NounfA1
A single blue sweater neatly folded on a plain surface.

📝 In Action

Lava esta prenda a mano para que no se arruine.

A1

Wash this garment by hand so it doesn't get ruined.

La tienda tiene prendas de vestir muy elegantes.

A2

The store has very elegant articles of clothing.

Solo puedes llevar tres prendas al probador.

B1

You can only take three items into the fitting room.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • prenda de vestir – article of clothing
  • prenda de abrigo – winter garment / coat
  • prenda íntima – underwear

pledge

Also: token, forfeit
NounfB2formal
A heavy golden key resting on a velvet cushion.

📝 In Action

Dejó su reloj en prenda para pagar la deuda.

B2

He left his watch as a pledge to pay the debt.

Te doy este anillo en prenda de mi amor.

C1

I give you this ring as a token of my love.

En el juego, los que pierden tienen que entregar una prenda.

B2

In the game, those who lose have to hand over a forfeit (an object).

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • garantía (guarantee)
  • fianza (bail/security)

Common Collocations

  • en prenda – as security / as a pledge
  • préstamo con prenda – secured loan

Idioms & Expressions

  • soltar prenda – to spill the beans or reveal a secret

gem

Also: piece of work
NounfC1informal
Spain
A sparkling green emerald gemstone sitting on a wooden table.

📝 In Action

Mi nieto es una buena prenda, siempre me ayuda.

C1

My grandson is a real gem; he always helps me.

¡Menuda prenda estás hecho!

C1

You're quite a piece of work!

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • buena prenda – a good soul / a gem

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "prenda" in Spanish:

forfeit→garment→gem→piece→pledge→token→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: prenda

Question 1 of 3

If you are in a clothing store and want to try on a shirt, what is the shirt called?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
prendar(to captivate / to pledge) — Verb
desprendido(generous / detached) — Adjective
desprender(to detach / to give off) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
agendatiendamerienda
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'pignora' (the plural of 'pignus'), which meant a pledge or security for a debt. Over centuries, it evolved from 'something of value left as security' to meaning 'a valuable object' and eventually simply 'a piece of clothing.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: prenda

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'ropa' and 'prenda'?

'Ropa' is a general word for 'clothes' as a group. 'Prenda' is used for the individual pieces. You can have many 'prendas' in your 'ropa'.

Can 'prenda' be used for jewelry?

Technically yes, especially in legal or very old poetic contexts, but in modern daily Spanish, it almost always refers to clothing.

Is it okay to use 'prenda' to call someone 'darling'?

It's a bit old-fashioned, but yes, 'mi prenda' was a way to say 'my dear' in the past. Today it's mostly used ironically for 'a piece of work.'