Inklingo

How to Say "pearl" in Spanish

English → Spanish

perla

PEHR-lahˈpeɾla

nounA2general
Use 'perla' when referring to the lustrous, precious gem produced within the shell of an oyster or similar mollusk.
A single, perfectly round white pearl resting inside an open oyster shell on a sandy seabed.

Examples

Ella lleva un collar de perlas muy elegante.

She is wearing a very elegant pearl necklace.

Las perlas se forman dentro de las ostras en el mar.

Pearls form inside oysters in the sea.

Tenía perlas de sudor en la frente después de correr.

He had beads of sweat on his forehead after running.

Countable Nouns

Just like in English, 'perla' is something you can count. You can have 'una perla' or 'muchas perlas'.

Gender Consistency

Because it ends in 'a', it is feminine. Use 'la' or 'una' and make sure any describing words also end in 'a', like 'perla blanca'.

Pearls vs. Beads

Mistake:Using 'perla' for every single bead on a piece of plastic jewelry.

Correction: Use 'perla' for real pearls or high-quality imitations. For cheap plastic beads, use 'cuenta' or 'abalorio'.

margarita

mar-gah-REE-tahmaɾɣaˈɾita

nounA1literary/archaic
Use 'margarita' when referring to the daisy flower, or in archaic or literary contexts for 'pearl', most famously in the phrase 'deshojar la margarita' (to pluck the petals of a daisy).
A single white daisy with a bright yellow center on a green stem.

Examples

Ella deshojó la margarita mientras decía: 'Me quiere, no me quiere'.

She plucked the petals off the daisy while saying: 'He loves me, he loves me not'.

El campo está lleno de margaritas blancas en primavera.

The field is full of white daisies in spring.

Gender of the word

This word is always feminine, so you must use 'la' or 'una' with it (la margarita).

Confusing with the name

Mistake:Using a lowercase 'm' for a person's name.

Correction: Use 'Margarita' (capitalized) for the woman's name and 'margarita' (lowercase) for the flower or drink.

Confusing Gemstone vs. Flower

The most common mistake is using 'margarita' for the gemstone. Remember that 'perla' specifically means the precious gem. 'Margarita' in Spanish primarily means 'daisy', and its use for 'pearl' is very rare and literary.

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