Isabela tiene pereza de ir al colegio

What does “tener pereza” mean in Spanish?

Tener pereza — literally “to have laziness” — is how Spanish speakers say they don’t feel like doing something, especially in the “ugh, not today” sense rather than genuine exhaustion. In this clip, a little girl announces she has pereza to go to school before perking up completely once she arrives.

Note the construction: pereza is a noun, so Spanish uses tener (“to have”) or dar (“to give,” as in me da pereza, “it gives me laziness”) rather than an adjective the way English says “lazy.” Reach for it any Friday morning — it’s one of the most relatable phrases in the language.