mero
/ˈmeɾo/masculine
The English word "grouper" is mero in Spanish. Wiktionary also lists cherna.
Meaning: fish (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mero | /ˈmeɾo/ | masculine |
| cherna | /ˈt͡ʃeɾna/ | feminine |
Both mero and cherna refer to the grouper fish.
Which one should you use?
mero is the standard masculine term used for the fish, while the feminine form cherna is used in specific contexts or regions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Colombia and Panama, the word cherna is used to refer to grouper.
How does it change in a sentence?
mero is a masculine noun and cherna is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmeɾo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to confuse the fish mero with the Spanish adjective mero, which can mean "mere" or "pure" depending on the context.
Did you know?
- There is a historical theory that the name for the fish might be linked to the Roman emperor Nero, suggesting the fish is perceived as being particularly fierce.
Examples in context
- Me gustaría ordenar un plato de meroI would like to order a plate of grouper
- Mi padre preparó una deliciosa cabrilla al hornoMy father made a delicious baked grouper
- Me gustaría probar la cherna a la parrilla, típica de las Islas Canarias.I would like to try the grilled grouper, typical of the Canary Islands.
- En Mar del Plata, es común comer cabezona asada en los restaurantes frente al mar.In Mar del Plata, it's common to eat grilled grouper at the beachfront restaurants.
- ¡Qué delicioso se ve ese plato de mero!That grouper dish looks delicious!
- Vamos a disfrutar de una cabrilla frita en la playa.Let's enjoy some fried grouper at the beach.
- El mero es muy fresco.The grouper is very fresh.
- Hoy cocinamos un mero al horno.Today we are cooking a baked grouper.
- ¿Cuánto cuesta el kilo de mero?How much does a kilo of grouper cost?
Example conversation
At a seafood market.
- MateoHola, ¿tienes algún mero hoy?Hello, do you have any grouper today?
- LucíaSí, tengo un mero muy grande.Yes, I have a very large grouper.
- MateoPerfecto, me llevaré ese mero.Perfect, I will take that grouper.
- LucíaMuy bien, Mateo. Lo preparo ahora.Very well, Mateo. I will prepare it now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grouper” translations and entries mero, cherna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cherna, mero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
