Per
Preposition
UK
/pɜː/
US
/pɝː/
Level: Easy - A1 (Beginner)
Definition
Used to show a rate or relationship between two things.
Example
"The worker earns ten dollars per hour."
"The car was moving at sixty kilometers per hour on the highway."
"Tickets are limited to two per person to avoid overcrowding."
Explanation
Per is a word that usually means “for each” or “for every”. We commonly use per with numbers, time, distance, or price. It shows a rate, ratio, or connection between two things. It is used to explain how many or how much something happens in one group, one time, or one thing. For example, “miles per hour” tells how many miles are travelled in one hour, and “apples per person” tells how many apples each person gets. Per makes it easy to compare or share things fairly. It helps explain how one thing relates to another in a clear and short way.