Inklingo

How to Say "couple" in Spanish

English → Spanish

pareja

pah-REH-hah/paˈɾe.xa/

nounA1general
Use 'pareja' when referring to two people who are in a romantic relationship, such as a boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife, or domestic partners.
Two stylized figures, one slightly taller than the other, standing close together and holding hands, smiling warmly.

Examples

Mi pareja y yo vamos a adoptar un perro.

My partner and I are going to adopt a dog.

Ellos son una pareja muy divertida.

They are a very fun couple.

¿Quién es tu pareja de baile?

Who is your dance partner?

Always Feminine

Even if the person you are referring to is male, the word 'pareja' is always feminine: 'El es mi pareja' (He is my partner).

Using Masculine Article

Mistake: “El pareja”

Correction: La pareja. Remember that the word itself determines the article, not the gender of the person.

novios

NOH-byos/ˈno.βjos/

nounA1general
Use 'novios' specifically to describe a couple who are engaged or in a serious romantic relationship, often implying they are dating exclusively.
A colorful illustration of a young man and woman smiling happily while holding hands, representing a boyfriend and girlfriend.

Examples

Mis amigos Juan y Sara son novios desde hace dos años.

My friends Juan and Sara have been a couple for two years.

¿Son ustedes novios o solo amigos?

Are you two a couple or just friends?

La pareja de novios se tomó de la mano para cruzar la calle.

The boyfriend and girlfriend held hands to cross the street.

Masculine Plural for Mixed Groups

Even if the couple is a man and a woman, Spanish uses the masculine plural form ('novios') to refer to the pair collectively. This is standard for mixed groups.

Using 'Novias' for Mixed Couple

Mistake: “Mis amigos son 'novias'.”

Correction: Mis amigos son 'novios'. The feminine plural ('novias') is only used if both people are female.

par

/pahr//paɾ/

nounA1general
Use 'par' to mean 'a pair' or 'a few' when referring to items or a small, indefinite number of things, not people in a relationship.
Two identical, brightly colored socks standing side-by-side.

Examples

Necesito comprar un par de calcetines.

I need to buy a pair of socks.

Dame un par de minutos y estoy listo.

Give me a couple of minutes and I'll be ready.

Lo he visto un par de veces esta semana.

I've seen him a couple of times this week.

Using 'un par de'

This phrase is your go-to for talking about two things that come together. You always say 'un par de' followed by the name of the items in plural form, like 'un par de zapatos' (a pair of shoes).

Forgetting the 'de'

Mistake: “Quiero un par zapatos.”

Correction: Always connect 'par' to the noun with 'de'. The correct way is: 'Quiero un par de zapatos'.

People vs. Things

The most common mistake is using 'par' for people. Remember that 'par' means a pair of items (like socks or shoes), while 'pareja' and 'novios' specifically refer to people in a romantic relationship.

Related Translations

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