perenne

perennial

adjective peh-REHN-neh Rare

Origin: Latin perennis (lasting through the year), from per (through) + annus (year)

Also means

perpetual

Usage Note

Perenne describes something that endures continuously, with no masculine/feminine distinction (same form for both). In botany planta perenne is a perennial plant (as opposed to anual). In figurative use it signals something that never goes away — un problema perenne (a perennial problem). It is invariable in gender but adds -s in the plural (perennes).

Examples

"La nieve perenne cubre las cimas."

Natural Translation

Perpetual snow covers the peaks.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Spanish Filler Words: 15 Ways to Sound Natural

Spanish filler words like pues, o sea, and vale make you sound natural, not robotic. Learn 15 muletillas sorted by job, by region, and when not to use them.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Diminutives: What -ito and -ita Really Mean

Spanish diminutives rarely mean 'little.' Learn what -ito and -ita really signal — warmth, softening, downplaying — plus the -cito and -ecito formation rules.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Ser vs. Estar: When to Use Each in Spanish

Ser vs estar made simple: how you feel and where you are use estar, everything else uses ser. Master the rule, the exceptions, and the traps that flip meaning.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Preterite vs. Imperfect: Spanish Past Tense Made Easy

Preterite vs. imperfect: use the preterite for finished events, the imperfect for ongoing scenery. A trigger-word cheat sheet, flowchart, and examples.

June 9, 2026 6 min read