Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| colgante | /kolˈɡante/ | masculine |
| pendiente | /penˈdjente/ | masculine |
| pendentif | /pandanˈtif/ /pendenˈtif/ |
masculine |
The term refers to a piece of jewellery hung from a chain worn around the neck.
What does it mean word for word?
The word colgante is derived from the verb colgar, which means 'to hang'.
Which one should you use?
While several words might seem similar, colgante specifically refers to a pendant worn on a necklace. In contrast, pendiente is the standard word for an earring and pendentif is another form that may be encountered.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word colgante can function as both a noun (a pendant) and an adjective (hanging). The masculine singular form is colgante, while the masculine or mixed gender plural form is los colgantes.
How do you pronounce it?
/kolˈɡante/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use pendiente to mean a neck pendant because it sounds similar to the English word 'pendant'. However, in Spanish, pendiente almost always means an earring.
Did you know?
- The word pendiente refers to an earring, but it is also the standard Spanish term for a 'slope' or 'incline' on a road.
- While colgante is the word for a pendant, the verb colgar is also used when you 'hang up' a phone call or 'hang' laundry.
- The word pendiente can also mean 'to be pending' or 'to wait' when used in different grammatical contexts, such as in the phrase quedar pendiente.
Examples in context
- Te daré este colgante.I'll give you this pendant.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of colgante when giving a gift.Tatoeba #3575510 by ficion, translation #17560 by CK
- Mary llevaba un colgante con forma de lágrima.Mary was wearing a teardrop-shaped pendant.This sentence describes the shape of a colgante.Tatoeba #11790764 by Seael, translation #11790762 by CK
- Mi tía me regaló el pendiente que llevo puesto.My aunt gave me the pendant I'm wearing.This sentence illustrates how pendiente is used to refer to an earring.Tatoeba #1172826 by marcelostockle, translation #1172827 by CK
- Vi a Marta luciendo un hermoso colganteI saw Marta wearing a beautiful pendant
- Compré el colgante de oro para mi madreI bought the gold pendant for my mother
- Perdí los colgantes que me había regalado mi abuelaI lost the pendants my grandmother gave me
- Compré un collar muy bonito con un colganteI bought a lovely necklace with a pendant
- Mi abuelo me regaló una medalla con un colgante de la VirgenMy grandfather gave me a medal with a pendant of the Virgin Mary
- Llevaba un bonito adorno en forma de corazónShe was wearing a beautiful heart-shaped pendant
- ¿Dónde compraste ese colgante tan bonito?Where did you buy that lovely pendant?
- Quisiera regalarle a mi esposa un colgante con su inicialI would like to gift my wife a pendant with her initial
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are looking at jewelry in a shop.
- Alejandro¿Te gusta este colgante, María?Do you like this pendant, María?
- MaríaSí, es un colgante muy elegante.Yes, it is a very elegant pendant.
- AlejandroCreo que te quedaría bien.I think it would look good on you.
- MaríaGracias, Alejandro, lo voy a comprar.Thanks, Alejandro, I am going to buy it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pendant” translations and entries colgante, pendiente, pendentif, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
