perro
/ˈpero/
The Spanish word for dog is perro.
perro refers to a domesticated carnivorous mammal often kept as a pet or for work. For something related to dogs, you can use the adjective Perruno.
Which one should you use?
English speakers should be careful not to confuse perro (dog) with pero (but), as the two words differ only by the strength of the 'r' sound.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The colloquial term chucho is used primarily in Latin America and Spain.
How does it change in a sentence?
This noun is gender-inflected. The masculine form is perro and the feminine form is perra. To form the plural, use perros to refer to multiple dogs of unknown sex or a group containing both male and female dogs.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpero/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the word perro is used as slang to describe a man who is a flirt or a womanizer.
- The word perro may have originated from an ancient vocal call used by humans to summon or command their dogs.
- Calling someone a perra is a severe insult that goes beyond the animal meaning, often implying the person is treacherous or promiscuous.
Examples in context
- El perro corre en el parque.The dog runs in the park.
- Tengo un perro muy inteligente.I have a very intelligent dog.
- Ese perro es de color café.That dog is brown.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are talking about their pets.
- MateoHola Lucía, ¿tienes un perro?Hi Lucía, do you have a dog?
- LucíaSí, tengo un perro pequeño.Yes, I have a small dog.
- MateoQué bien, me gustan mucho.That's great, I like them a lot.
- LucíaMi perro es muy inteligente.My dog is very intelligent.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry perro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries perro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
