Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| peso | /ˈpeso/ | masculine |
| pesadez | /pesaˈdeθ/ /pesaˈdes/ |
feminine |
| pesantez (monosemic) | feminine | |
| pesadura | /pesaduɾa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| pesor (monosemic) | masculine |
The primary term for the physical force due to gravity is peso. In mathematics, the related verbs for the act of weighing or calculating weight are pesar and ponderar. When speaking idiomatically about gaining weight, use the phrase subir de peso.
Which one should you use?
While peso refers to physical weight, pesadez is used to describe an abstract sensation of heaviness or a feeling of sluggishness and slowness. The forms pesantez and pesadura also exist.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions, the word libras is used to refer to pounds and onzas is used to refer to ounces.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form pesos can refer to multiple weights, but it is most commonly recognized as the plural of the currency unit in many Spanish-speaking countries. The noun peso is masculine, while pesadez, pesantez and pesadura are feminine. The term pesor is a masculine monosemic form.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpeso/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to confuse the noun peso (weight) with the first-person singular present of the verb pesar (I weigh), as they are spelled identically.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, the expression caerle pesado to someone literally means 'to fall heavy on them', but it actually means that the person finds you irritating.
- The word peso is a doublet of the word pienso, which means 'thought'. This reflects the ancient conceptual link between weighing an object and weighing an idea in the mind.
- The word peso shares a linguistic ancestor with the English word 'pendant'. Both come from the Latin root pendō, which refers to the act of hanging or weighing something from a scale.
Examples in context
- No subas de peso.Don't put on weight.This sentence uses peso to express the idea of not gaining weight.Tatoeba #1265448 by marcelostockle, translation #275013 by Scott
- Él subió de peso.He has gained weight.This sentence uses peso to describe the act of having gained weight.Tatoeba #3100354 by marcelostockle, translation #2390280 by waldrumpus
- Voy a perder peso.I'll lose weight.This sentence uses peso to talk about losing weight.Tatoeba #7181462 by arh, translation #2247780 by CK
- ¿Cuál es su peso?What is your weight?
- Mi peso es de 70 kilogramos.My weight is 70 kilograms.
- Necesito perder dos kilos.I need to lose two kilograms.
- ¿Cuánto pesas?How much do you weigh?
- Peso unos 75 kilos.I weigh around 75 kilos.
- 189 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Daniel are packing a suitcase for a flight.
- MaríaEsta maleta tiene demasiado peso.This suitcase has too much weight.
- DanielTienes que sacar algunas cosas, María.You have to take some things out, María.
- MaríaEl peso límite es de veinte kilos.The weight limit is twenty kilos.
- DanielEntonces vamos a quitar esos zapatos.Then we are going to remove those shoes.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “weight” translations and entries peso, pesadez, 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 pesadez, peso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
