perrear
/pereˈaɾ/
To throw it back in Spanish is perrear.
In slang, perrear is the specific verb used to describe dancing in a suggestive way by moving the hips and buttocks, a movement often associated with reggaeton music.
Which one should you use?
While perrear is the verb for the action, perreo is the noun used to refer to the specific dance style or the act of throwing it back itself.
How does it change in a sentence?
The gerund form perreando is used when you want to describe the continuous action of performing the dance (throwing it back).
How do you pronounce it?
/pereˈaɾ/
Did you know?
- The term perrear is literally derived from the word perro, meaning 'dog'. It evokes the image of dogs mating, which reflects the provocative nature of the dance.
- In many Spanish-speaking nightclubs, the term perreo is used to describe the entire atmosphere of a party, not just the dance itself.
- While 'throwing it back' in English is a relatively new slang term, perreo has been a staple of Latin American urban music culture for decades.
Examples in context
- ¡Ey, tira la pelota de vuelta! ¡Todavía estamos jugando!Hey, throw the ball back! We're still playing!
- Ella sabe perrear muy bien.She knows how to throw it back very well.
- Esa canción es para perrear.That song is for throwing it back.
- Me encanta cuando la veo perrear.I love it when I see her throw it back.
Example conversation
At a loud dance club.
- Elena¡Mira cómo sabe perrear!Look how she can throw it back!
- AlejandroEs increíble, tiene mucho ritmo.She is incredible, she has a lot of rhythm.
- ElenaAlejandro, ¡tienes que bailar también!Alejandro, you have to dance too!
- AlejandroNo, yo no sé perrear.No, I don't know how to throw it back.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry perrear, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries perrear, CC BY-SA 4.0.
