Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| peculiar | /pekuˈljaɾ/ |
| raro | /ˈraɾo/ |
The word is used to describe things that are out of the ordinary. To express that something is characteristic or unique to a specific place or person, use the construction peculiar de [noun].
Which one should you use?
While peculiar is used for things that are distinctive or characteristic, raro is the much more common way to say something is 'strange' or 'weird' in everyday conversation.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and Argentina, raro(a) may be used to refer to someone who is eccentric or odd.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective peculiar is invariant for gender, meaning it remains peculiar whether modifying a masculine or feminine noun. However, it must agree in number with the noun it modifies, changing to peculiares for plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/pekuˈljaɾ/
Did you know?
- Spanish has a 'doublet' for peculiar, the word pegujal. While peculiar was borrowed back from Latin, pegujal evolved naturally through the centuries from the same root.
- In Spanish, the word raro can be used to describe something that is 'rare' in terms of frequency, not just something that is 'weird'.
- Using peculiar often carries a more positive or sophisticated connotation than raro, which can sometimes imply that something is 'off' or 'wrong'.
Examples in context
- Los pingüinos son aves peculiares.Penguins are peculiar birds.This sentence shows how to use peculiar to describe birds.Tatoeba #1560178 by marcelostockle, translation #8565946 by guavalava
- Esta leche tiene un olor peculiar.This milk has a peculiar smell.This sentence uses peculiar to describe a smell.Tatoeba #1560181 by marcelostockle, translation #60454 by CM
- Esta costumbre es peculiar de Japón.This custom is peculiar to Japan.This sentence demonstrates the construction peculiar de to describe a custom characteristic of a place.Tatoeba #5870928 by albrusgher, translation #58573 by CK
- Este restaurante tiene un ambiente muy extraño.This restaurant has a very peculiar atmosphere.
- Juan tiene una forma de vestir muy extraña.Juan has a very peculiar way of dressing.
- El diseño de este edificio es bastante extraño.The design of this building is quite peculiar.
- ¡Qué rara es esa película!That movie is so peculiar!
- María tiene un sentido del humor muy raro.María has a very peculiar sense of humor.
- Ese profesor es bien raro.That teacher is quite peculiar.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are looking at an old painting in a gallery.
- Mateo¿Viste ese cuadro de color peculiar?Did you see that painting of a peculiar color?
- LucíaSí, es un color muy extraño.Yes, it is a very strange color.
- MateoMe parece que el artista era peculiar.I think the artist was peculiar.
- LucíaEs cierto, su arte es único.That's true, his art is unique.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “peculiar” translations and entries peculiar, raro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries peculiar, raro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
