Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Piercing in Spanish: Piercing & Perforación
Piercing · noun (masculine) · PEER-seen (as English loanword)
The English word 'piercing' has been widely adopted into Spanish as a loanword and is used throughout the Spanish-speaking world to refer to body jewelry and the act of getting one. The formal alternative 'perforación' is used in medical or official contexts.
Spanish speakers typically pronounce the loanword 'piercing' as PEER-seen, adapting English phonetics to Spanish sounds. 'Perforación' is pronounced pehr-foh-rah-SYOHN.
Mi hermana se hizo un piercing en la nariz.
My sister got a nose piercing.
Piercing in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for piercing, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| piercing | piercing | PEER-seen (as English loanword) | Default, widely understood |
| perforación | piercing | formal or medical term | |
| arete | piercing | specifically for ear piercings in some regions |
How Native Speakers Use Piercing
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Getting a piercing
Quiero hacerme un piercing en la ceja.
I want to get an eyebrow piercing.
Expressing interest in body modification.
Parental concern
Mis padres no me dejan ponerme un piercing hasta los dieciocho.
My parents won't let me get a piercing until I'm eighteen.
Discussing family rules about piercings.
Medical context
La perforación se infectó porque no la cuidó bien.
The piercing got infected because she didn't take care of it.
Describing a medical complication.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Piercing
Using 'pirsing' as a spelling
Incorrect: Me hice un pirsing nuevo.
Correct: Me hice un piercing nuevo.
Even though 'piercing' is an English loanword, Spanish has adopted the original English spelling. Writing 'pirsing' is a common misspelling.
Confusing with 'pendiente'
Incorrect: Tengo un piercing en cada oreja. (meaning regular earrings)
Correct: Tengo un pendiente en cada oreja.
Standard earrings are called 'pendientes' (Spain) or 'aretes' (Latin America). 'Piercing' implies body jewelry beyond traditional earlobe earrings.
Lock in Piercing 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 Piercing used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using piercing in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Mi hermana se hizo un piercing en la nariz. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Piercing in Spanish
- Is the word 'piercing' officially accepted in Spanish?
- The RAE (Real Academia Española) recognizes 'pirsin' as the adapted spelling, but in actual usage, the vast majority of speakers write and say 'piercing' using the English form.
- How do you say 'to get a piercing' in Spanish?
- The most common expression is 'hacerse un piercing' or 'ponerse un piercing,' and in medical Spanish, you might hear 'realizarse una perforación.'
- What is the plural of 'piercing' in Spanish?
- The plural is 'piercings,' adding an '-s' following the standard Spanish rule for loanwords ending in a consonant, as in 'tiene varios piercings en las orejas.'