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Nácar means mother-of-pearl — a common term in Beautiful Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: April 27, 2026

✨ Beautiful Spanish

Nácar

noun • /[NA-kar]/

mother-of-pearl

Example:

El botón es de nácar.

The button is made of mother-of-pearl.

🧠 What does Nácar mean?

Nácar refers to the iridescent, pearly, inner layer of certain mollusk shells, such as oysters and abalone. It is known for its beautiful, shimmering appearance, often displaying a range of colors that shift with the light. This material has been valued throughout history for its aesthetic qualities and is used in decorative objects, jewelry, and inlay work.

📚 Extra examples

  • La superficie del botón estaba hecha de auténtico nácar, lo que le daba un brillo sutil.
    The surface of the button was made of genuine mother-of-pearl, which gave it a subtle sheen.
  • Los artesanos tallaron intrincados diseños en piezas de nácar para crear adornos.
    Artisans carved intricate designs into pieces of mother-of-pearl to create ornaments.
  • El anillo presentaba una gema de nácar rodeada de plata.
    The ring featured a mother-of-pearl gem surrounded by silver.
  • El interior de la concha mostraba un hermoso reflejo de nácar.
    The inside of the shell showed a beautiful mother-of-pearl reflection.

💡 Did You Know?

The term 'nácar' comes from the Arabic word 'naqqar,' meaning shell.

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "Nácar"

Synonyms: madreperla

🔍 See more beautiful spanish words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'mother-of-pearl' in Spanish?
The Spanish word for 'mother-of-pearl' is nácar.
How do you pronounce 'Nácar' in Spanish?
Nácar is pronounced NAH-kar. The accent mark over the 'á' indicates that the stress falls on the first syllable.
How do you use 'Nácar' in a sentence?
Nácar is used as a noun to refer to the material itself. For example, 'El joyero usó nácar para el colgante' (The jeweler used mother-of-pearl for the pendant).
What is the English translation of 'Nácar'?
The English translation of Nácar is mother-of-pearl.
Does 'Nácar' change for gender or number?
Nácar is a masculine noun. It does not typically change for number when referring to the material itself, but if one were referring to multiple pieces of nácar, it would be 'nácares'.
Is 'Nácar' common in everyday Spanish?
While nácar is a recognized term, it is more commonly encountered in contexts related to jewelry, art, and decorative crafts rather than in very casual, everyday conversation.
Does 'Nácar' have slang or double meanings?
Nácar does not typically have slang or double meanings. Its primary meaning is directly related to the pearlescent shell material.
Is 'Nácar' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
The meaning and usage of nácar are generally consistent across Spain and Latin America.

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