An important word to understand the meaning of if you come across it on a sign or label is peligro.
Peligro is the Spanish word for danger, hazard, threat, peril or risk. It comes from the Latin pericŭlum which in turn came from the Proto-Germanic *feraną, the Proto-Indo-European *bʰowHéyeti and the Proto-Indo-European *per meaning around or through.
Latin American Pronunciation
European Pronunciation
Peligro is a masculine noun with the plural form being peligros. It takes the following definite and indefinite articles:
- el peligro = the danger
- un peligro = a danger
- los peligros = the dangers
- unos peligros = some dangers
Debemos proteger el medio ambiente porque hoy día está en peligro.
We must protect the environment because now it is in danger.
The word peligro can be used when talking about a situation, person or thing that may cause danger to health or even life, or cause the risk of negative change.
You will see the word peligro used alongside other words to describe specific dangers:
- peligro de incendio = fire risk/fire hazard
- peligro de muerte = danger of death
- zona de peligro = danger area/zone
- peligro biológico = biohazard
- peligro público = public menace
- especies en peligro de extinción = endangered species
¡Ese niño es un peligro andante!
That child is a walking disaster! (humorous)
Fun fact:
There is a town called Peligros in the province of Granada, Spain.
– The name of the town comes originally from the word Paluculum, a Latin term from the Roman Empire. This word means place where you can find a lake with hazardous floods of water.
The now-empty neighbourhood of Las Cuevas has suffered from several floods and the whole area around Peligros suffered a large earthquake in 1956.
When you want to say something or someone is in danger (en peligro) you can use the verbs poner or correr:
- poner en peligro = to put in danger
- correr peligro = to be in danger
Si sigues así bebiendo y fumando tanto tu vida correrá peligro.
If you carry on drinking and smoking so much your life will be in danger.
Related words to peligro include the adjective peligroso/a (dangerous) and the verb peligrar (to be in danger or at risk). Peligro is also the first person singular present indicative of this verb. You’ll also find the adverb peligrosamente (dangerously) and the feminine noun peligrosidad which also means danger or riskiness.
The antonym or opposite of peligro is seguridad (security) or you can say fuera de peligro (out of danger).
An idiom using the word ‘peligro’:
Escaparse por poco de un peligro
Literal translation: to have a narrow escape from danger
English meaning: to have a close call
