Perú
/peˈɾu/masculine
The English word Peru is Perú in Spanish.
Perú is the name of the country located in South America.
Meaning: country in South America (name)
Is it said differently in some regions?
Perú is universally understood across all Spanish-speaking regions.
How does it change in a sentence?
In many contexts, particularly in formal writing or in certain regions, the definite article el is used before the name of the country, as in el Perú.
How do you pronounce it?
/peˈɾu/
Did you know?
- The word Perú is often associated in Spanish with the term el ombligo del mundo, meaning 'the navel of the world', referring to the ancient Inca city of Cusco.
- The name Perú may originate from the Quechua word pelu, meaning 'river'.
- While most Spanish country names are used without an article, Perú is one of the few where using el Perú is common and often signals a deeper, more poetic or patriotic emotional connection to the land.
Examples in context
- Yo vivo en Perú.I live in Peru.This sentence is useful for stating where you live using Perú.Tatoeba #2721824 by cueyayotl, translation #2721823 by CN
- ¿Él partirá mañana a Perú, o no?He is leaving for Peru tomorrow, isn't he?This sentence is useful for asking about travel plans to Perú.Tatoeba #1238897 by marcelostockle, translation #304095 by CK
- Según el periódico, hubo un terremoto en Perú.According to the paper, there was an earthquake in Peru.This sentence is useful for reporting news about an event in Perú.Tatoeba #1685457 by teskmon, translation #269406 by CK
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their upcoming travel plans.
- Javier¿Vas a viajar a Perú este año?Are you going to travel to Peru this year?
- LucíaSí, Javier, quiero visitar Lima.Yes, Javier, I want to visit Lima.
- JavierEs un país muy hermoso.It is a very beautiful country.
- LucíaTengo mucha ilusión por este viaje.I am very excited about this trip.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “peru” translations and entries Perú, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Perú, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
