pi
/ˈpi/feminine
In Spanish, the mathematical constant pi is pi.
pi is used to refer to the irrational mathematical constant. You can refer to it simply as pi, or more specifically as la letra pi to acknowledge that it is a letter from the Greek alphabet.
Meaning: irrational mathematical constant (noun)
Which one should you use?
While pi is the simplest way to name the constant, you may also use the more descriptive el número pi to mean 'the number pi'.
How does it change in a sentence?
pi is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpi/
Did you know?
- The Greek letter pi is used in Spanish to name the constant, but the word for 'foot' is also pie. These are homophones in some dialects and can cause puns in mathematical jokes.
- While pi is feminine, the phrase el número pi is masculine because the gender is determined by número. This can lead to confusion for learners when they see the constant paired with different articles.
- While English treats 'pi' as a neutral concept, Spanish assigns it a feminine gender. This means you must use the feminine article la when referring to it as la constante pi.
Examples in context
- ¿Cómo se calcula pi?How do you calculate pi?This sentence shows how to ask about the calculation of pi.Tatoeba #8030162 by Seael, translation #11507903 by duckington
- El 14 de marzo es el Día Pi.March 14 is Pi Day.This sentence mentions Pi Day in relation to pi.Tatoeba #4735510 by lawka, translation #4733231 by tazi
- ¿Te apetece una piña colada?Do you feel like a piña colada?This sentence uses a word that contains the string pi but is unrelated to the mathematical constant.Tatoeba #10323820 by Seael, translation #10868551 by Luornu
- En matemáticas, la constante pi se utiliza para representar la relación entre la circunferencia y el diámetro de cualquier círculo.In mathematics, the constant pi is used to represent the ratio between the circumference and the diameter of any circle.
- ¿Sabías que pi es una letra del alfabeto griego?Did you know that pi is a letter of the Greek alphabet?
- Mi amigo es fanático de los números, siempre está hablando de pi.My friend is a fanatic of numbers, he is always talking about pi.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are studying geometry together.
- ElenaJavier, ¿cuánto vale pi exactamente?Javier, how much is pi exactly?
- JavierEs aproximadamente tres coma catorce.It is approximately three point fourteen.
- ElenaNecesito pi para calcular el área.I need pi to calculate the area.
- JavierUsa el botón de pi en la calculadora.Use the pi button on the calculator.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pi” translations and entries pi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
