Inklingo
← Dictionary

pura

/POO-rah/

pure

A single, perfectly clear, unmixed drop of water suspended in the air, illustrating purity.

Visualizing pura as 'pure' or 'unmixed' (unmixed, clean).

pura(adjective)

fA2

pure

?

unmixed, clean

,

unadulterated

?

food or substance

Also:

clean

?

water, air

,

chaste

?

person (less common usage)

📝 In Action

Necesito agua pura para la receta.

A2

I need pure water for the recipe.

El aire de la montaña es puro, ¡qué maravilla!

B1

The mountain air is pure, how marvelous!

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • sucia (dirty)
  • contaminada (contaminated)

Common Collocations

  • leche pura – whole milk
  • lana pura – pure wool

💡 Grammar Points

Agreement with Nouns

Remember that adjectives like 'pura' must match the gender and number of the person or thing they describe. 'Pura' is used only for singular feminine nouns (like 'agua' or 'suerte').

A colossal, vertical, sheer cliff face composed entirely of solid rock, dominating the view above a blue ocean, illustrating absolute scale.

Visualizing pura as 'sheer' or 'absolute' (complete, absolute).

pura(adjective)

fB2

sheer

?

complete, absolute

,

absolute

?

total

Also:

utter

?

used for emphasis

,

genuine

?

true feeling

📝 In Action

Fue pura coincidencia que nos encontráramos allí.

B2

It was sheer coincidence that we ran into each other there.

Sintió una pura felicidad al ver a su hija.

C1

She felt absolute happiness upon seeing her daughter.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • pura suerte – pure luck
  • pura casualidad – sheer chance

💡 Grammar Points

Intensifying Emotions

When 'pura' is used as an intensifier, it often comes before the noun (e.g., 'pura alegría') to emphasize the totality of the emotion or quality.

A vast, expansive field covered entirely by bright red poppy flowers, extending to the horizon, showing only that one type of flower.

Visualizing pura as 'nothing but' or 'only' (only, just).

pura(adjective)

fB1

nothing but

?

only, just

Also:

solely

?

exclusively

📝 In Action

Ella pasa el día en pura televisión.

B1

She spends the day watching nothing but TV. (or: just TV)

Mi hermana come pura fruta.

B1

My sister eats only fruit.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • pura gente – only people / just people

💡 Grammar Points

Colloquial Use as 'Only'

In many informal settings, using 'pura' before a noun is a quick way to say 'only this' or 'nothing else but this,' replacing words like 'solamente' or 'solo.'

❌ Common Pitfalls

Overusing 'Pura' in Formal Contexts

Mistake: "Using 'pura' to mean 'only' in a business email."

Correction: This usage is informal. Stick to 'solo' or 'solamente' in formal writing to mean 'only.'

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: pura

Question 1 of 2

Which meaning of 'pura' is used in the phrase: 'Mi abuela tiene pura bondad en su corazón.'

📚 More Resources

Word Family

puro(pure (masculine)) - adjective
pureza(purity) - noun
purificar(to purify) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'puro' and 'pura'?

'Puro' is the masculine form and is used with masculine nouns (e.g., 'puro oro' - pure gold). 'Pura' is the feminine form and is used with feminine nouns (e.g., 'pura agua' - pure water). They mean the same thing, but you must match the gender.

Can 'pura' be used to describe people?

Yes, but it's less common today and can sound old-fashioned. When describing a person, 'pura' means 'chaste' or 'innocent.' It is much more frequently used to describe objects, substances, or abstract qualities like 'suerte' (luck) or 'alegría' (joy).