pez
/ˈpeθ/masculine
The English word fish can be translated into Spanish as pez, pescado or peje. Wiktionary also lists pesce (disused).
Meaning: vertebrate animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pez | /ˈpeθ/ /ˈpes/ |
masculine |
| pescado | /pesˈkado/ | masculine |
| peje | /ˈpexe/ | masculine |
| pesce (disused) | masculine |
The term refers to a vertebrate animal. You can also use the related verb pescar to mean to catch fish or aquatic animals.
Which one should you use?
Spanish distinguishes between a fish that is alive and one that is intended to be eaten. Use pez to refer to a fish that is alive and swimming in the water, while use pescado to refer to a fish that has been caught and is intended to be eaten.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of pez is peces. The plural of pescado is pescados.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpeθ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use pescado to describe a living fish in an aquarium or river. Instead, use pez for living animals.
Did you know?
- Spanish speakers use the phrase pez gordo to describe a 'big fish', which refers to a person of high importance or power in a criminal or political organization.
- The word pez has a rare homonym that also means 'pitch' or 'resin'. While they sound identical in many dialects, they come from entirely different Latin roots.
- While pez refers to the living animal, the word pescado is actually a past participle, essentially meaning 'the-already-fished'.
Examples in context
- No es un pez.It's not a fish.This sentence is useful for practicing the negative form of pez.Tatoeba #1513877 by marcelostockle, translation #1513673 by CM
- Esto es un pez.This is a fish.This sentence is useful for identifying a pez.Tatoeba #3048279 by hayastan, translation #2629585 by CM
- Casi cojo el pez.I almost caught the fish.This sentence is useful for describing an attempt to catch a pez.Tatoeba #1753845 by wallebot, translation #255778 by CK
- Hoy voy a comer pescado para la cena.Today I'm going to eat fish for dinner.
- Hay muchos peces en el acuario.There are many fish in the aquarium.
- ¡Qué lindo pescadito tienes en tu pecera!What a cute little fish you have in your fish tank!
- 298 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are looking at a colorful fish in an aquarium.
- Lucía¿Ves ese pez azul?Do you see that blue fish?
- JavierSí, es un pez muy bonito.Yes, it is a very beautiful fish.
- LucíaJavier, el pez se está moviendo.Javier, the fish is moving.
- JavierEs normal, Lucía, está nadando.It's normal, Lucía, it is swimming.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “fish” translations and entries pez, pescado, peje, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries peje, pescado, pez, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
