Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Earrings in Spanish: Aretes, Pendientes, and More
Aretes · noun (masculine, plural) · ah-REH-tess
The most common Spanish words for earrings are <b>aretes</b> (widely used in Latin America) and <b>pendientes</b> (standard in Spain). Other regional terms include aros and zarcillos.
ah-REH-tess (aretes) / pen-dee-EN-tess (pendientes)
Estos aretes de plata combinan con todo.
These silver earrings go with everything.
Earrings in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for earrings, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| aretes | earrings | ah-REH-tess | Default, widely understood |
| pendientes | earrings | Spain | |
| aros | earrings | Argentina, Chile, Uruguay | |
| zarcillos | earrings | Venezuela |
How Native Speakers Use Aretes
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Gift giving
Le regalé unos aretes de oro para su cumpleaños.
I gave her gold earrings for her birthday.
Describing a gift in a Latin American context.
Shopping in Spain
¿Cuánto cuestan esos pendientes de perlas?
How much do those pearl earrings cost?
Asking a price in a Spanish jewelry store.
Getting ready
No encuentro mis aretes favoritos; creo que los dejé en el baño.
I can't find my favorite earrings; I think I left them in the bathroom.
An everyday situation while getting dressed.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Aretes
Using pendientes in Latin America for earrings
Incorrect: Compré unos pendientes nuevos. (in Mexico)
Correct: Compré unos aretes nuevos. (in Mexico)
In most of Latin America, pendientes means 'pending tasks' or 'things to do,' not earrings. Using aretes avoids confusion.
Wrong gender
Incorrect: Las aretes son bonitas.
Correct: Los aretes son bonitos.
Aretes is a masculine noun, so it takes masculine articles and adjectives: los aretes bonitos, not las aretes bonitas.
Lock in Earrings Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Aretes used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using aretes in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Estos aretes de plata combinan con todo. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Earrings in Spanish
- Which word for earrings should I learn?
- It depends on who you speak with. If you interact mostly with Latin American Spanish speakers, aretes is the safest choice. If you speak with people from Spain, use pendientes. In Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, aros is the most natural term.
- What is the singular form of aretes?
- The singular is arete — one earring. Similarly, the singular of pendientes is pendiente, and the singular of aros is aro.
- Does pendientes have other meanings besides earrings?
- Outside of Spain, pendientes most frequently means 'pending' or 'outstanding tasks.' Even in Spain it can mean 'pending' depending on context. The earring meaning is primarily a Spain-specific usage.