mero
/ˈmeɾo/
The English phrase "grouper fish" is mero in Spanish.
mero refers to a large sea fish that is often used for food. When naming the species in Spanish, you use the word mero alone. You do not need to add a separate word for "fish" such as pez or pescado.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun mero is masculine. When referring to a specific fish, it is preceded by the masculine article el to form el mero. The plural form of the word is meros.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmeɾo/
Did you know?
- In several Spanish-speaking regions, mero is used as a slang adjective meaning 'the best' or 'the real deal', such as calling someone el mero mero to indicate they are the big boss.
- The word mero might be an ancient nickname for the Roman Emperor Nero, used to describe the fish's fierce and predatory nature.
- The word mero also functions as a common adjective in Spanish meaning 'mere' or 'simple', as in mero detalle for a 'mere detail'.
Examples in context
- El restaurante ofrece un exquisito plato de mero.The restaurant offers an exquisite grouper dish.
- Me gustaría comprar un kilo de cherna fresca.I would like to buy a kilogram of fresh grouper.
- Vamos a preparar una deliciosa cabrilla a la parrilla.Let's cook a delicious grilled grouper.
- El mero es muy fresco hoy.The grouper is very fresh today.
- ¿Te gusta comer mero?Do you like eating grouper?
- Pedí un filete de mero.I ordered a grouper fillet.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are looking at a restaurant menu.
- SofíaMira, tienen mero fresco hoy.Look, they have fresh grouper today.
- MateoMe gusta mucho el mero.I like grouper very much.
- Sofía¿Lo quieres pedir con arroz?Do you want to order it with rice?
- MateoSí, suena perfecto, Sofía.Yes, that sounds perfect, Sofía.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
