Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| florero | /floˈɾeɾo/ | masculine |
| jarrón | /xaˈron/ | masculine |
| vasija | /baˈsixa/ | feminine |
| canope | /kanope/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
While florero is a common term for a container used to hold flowers, other words like vasija describe a more general type of vessel or container.
Which one should you use?
florero is used specifically for a vase intended to hold flowers, a term derived from the word 'flor' (flower). In contrast, jarrón often implies a larger, more decorative or more substantial vase or urn. If you are referring to a general vessel or a container like a clay pot, use vasija. Additionally, note that canope is another masculine form for a vase.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, such as Mexico, Peru and Colombia, the word florero is used frequently.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural forms are floreros for florero, jarrones for jarrón and vasijas for vasija.
How do you pronounce it?
/floˈɾeɾo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to use maceta when you mean a vase. Technically, maceta refers to a flowerpot.
Did you know?
- While canope is used for a specific type of vase, it refers to the 'canopic jars' used by ancient Egyptians to hold internal organs.
- The word jarrón is essentially a 'giant' version of the word jarro, which means a pitcher or a mug. The suffix '-ón' acts as an augmentative to turn a simple vessel into a large, decorative piece.
- The word florero follows a common Spanish pattern where the suffix '-ero' denotes a person or an object related to a specific thing. Just as a 'panadero' is a baker (one who handles 'pan'), a 'florero' is the object that handles 'flores'.
Examples in context
- Le di el florero.I gave him the vase.This sentence shows how to use the masculine form florero when giving it to someone.Tatoeba #7859462 by arh, translation #11065549 by Luornu
- Le puse agua al florero.I filled a vase with water.This sentence demonstrates the use of florero in the context of adding water to it.Tatoeba #1571054 by hayastan, translation #23696 by CK
- ¿Quién ha roto el jarrón?Who broke the vase?This sentence shows how to use the masculine form jarrón when asking about something being broken.Tatoeba #459167 by Shishir, translation #454441 by CM
- El jarrón en la sala es muy bonito.The vase in the living room is very beautiful.
- 34 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are decorating the dining table for a dinner.
- Mateo¿Dónde está el florero azul?Where is the blue vase?
- ElenaEstá sobre la mesa del comedor.It is on the dining table.
- MateoPerfecto, voy a poner las flores en el florero.Perfect, I am going to put the flowers in the vase.
- ElenaSe verá muy bonito, Mateo.It will look very pretty, Mateo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vase” translations and entries florero, jarrón, vasija, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries florero, jarrón, vasija, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
