Ways to say it
| Spanish | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| guisante | /ɡiˈsante/ | formal, masculine | |
| alverja | /alˈbeɾxa/ | Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, feminine | |
| arveja | /aɾˈbexa/ | Canary Islands, Latin America, feminine | |
| alverjón | /albeɾˈxon/ | masculine | |
| chícharo | /ˈt͡ʃit͡ʃaɾo/ | Cuba, Mexico, masculine | |
| pésol (also présol) | Southeastern, Spain, masculine | ||
| petit pois | petipuá | /petiˈpwas/ | Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela, masculine |
| bisalto | /biˈsalto/ | masculine |
The term refers to the edible seed of the pea plant.
Which one should you use?
While most terms refer to the same plant, alverjón is specifically used to describe a larger variety of pea or a dried pea. The terms guisante, alverja, chícharo and pésol (also written as présol) are all used for the standard pea depending on the context and location.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
guisante is the formal term for pea in Spanish.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Regional variations are numerous: alverja is the preferred term in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. arveja is widely used across Latin America and in the Canary Islands. chícharo is commonly used in Mexico and Cuba, as well as certain parts of Central America. pésol or présol is used in Southeastern Spain. In Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama and Venezuela, the term petit pois is used. bisalto is also a masculine form for the plant.
How does it change in a sentence?
alverjón is a masculine noun used to refer to a larger variety of pea or a dried pea.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡiˈsante/
Did you know?
- The word chícharo did not come directly from Latin, but was borrowed through Mozarabic, a Romance language spoken in Iberia under Muslim rule.
- The term petit pois is used to refer to peas in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama and Venezuela, making it an unusual French loanword in those regions.
Examples in context
- Hay un guisante en mi fosa nasal derecha.There's a pea in my right nostril.This sentence is useful for identifying the location of a guisante.Tatoeba #11936951 by Seael, translation #27073 by katix824
- En el centro de la pizza había un guisante.In the middle of the pizza, there was a pea.This sentence is useful for describing the presence of a guisante on food.Tatoeba #2779850 by Leono, translation #12987663 by rul
- Los guisantes son una excelente fuente de proteínas y fibra.Peas are an excellent source of proteins and fiber.
- Me encanta la sopa de arvejas, es mi favorita.I love pea soup, it's my favorite.
- Ensalada con chícharos es una excelente opción para el almuerzo.Salad with peas is an excellent lunch option.
- El guisante es muy pequeño.The pea is very small.
Example conversation
Javier and María are cooking dinner together.
- JavierMaría, ¿tienes algún guisante en la despensa?María, do you have any peas in the pantry?
- MaríaSí, Javier, hay una lata en el armario.Yes, Javier, there is a can in the cupboard.
- JavierPerfecto, voy a añadir el guisante a la sopa.Perfect, I am going to add the peas to the soup.
- MaríaMuy bien, eso le dará un buen sabor.Very good, that will give it a good flavor.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pea” translations and entries guisante, alverja, arveja, alverjón, chícharo, petit pois, bisalto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alverjón, arveja, chícharo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
