noun

el arete

earring

Adorno que se lleva en la oreja.

Definition & meaning

Arete is a masculine noun with two main meanings:

Earring: In much of Latin America, it means an earring or small piece of jewelry worn through the ear. In some places, it can also refer to a hoop-style earring.
Edge or ridge: It can mean the sharp edge where two surfaces meet, or a narrow, raised ridge of rock or land.

The jewelry sense is especially common in Latin American Spanish; pendiente is more common in Spain.

Grammar & Word origin

Arete is masculine: el arete; its plural is los aretes. The word’s origin is uncertain. It is distinct from areté, with an accent, a separate Spanish word referring to the ancient Greek concept of excellence or virtue.

Synonyms & antonyms

For the jewelry meaning: pendiente is a widely used general term for an earring, especially in Spain; zarcillo also means earring but is less common in many regions; aro refers more specifically to a hoop or ring-shaped earring.
For the edge or ridge meaning: arista usually refers to a sharp edge or line where surfaces meet; filo emphasizes sharpness; cresta usually describes a raised ridge or crest.