Word: perennial (adjective)

Associations

"Perennial" means something that lasts for a very long time or keeps coming back every year.

• In nature: A perennial plant lives for many years, not just one season. For example, "Roses are perennial flowers."
• In time: Something that is perennial happens again and again, like "perennial problems" that never seem to go away.
• In popularity: A perennial favorite is something people like all the time, like "This song is a perennial hit."

Synonym: "everlasting" or "perpetual" can be similar, but "perennial" often refers to cycles or repeating over years, especially in plants or ideas. "Everlasting" means never ending, without stop.

Substitution

You can replace "perennial" with:

• "yearly" (if talking about something that happens every year)
• "long-lasting" (if you want to say something lasts a long time)
• "constant" (if you want to say something is always there) Each changes the meaning slightly. "Yearly" focuses on time, "long-lasting" on duration, and "constant" on presence.

Deconstruction

• Prefix: "per-" means through or throughout.
• Root: "ennial" comes from Latin "annus," meaning year. Together, "perennial" means "through the years" or lasting many years. It originally described plants that live more than one year.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a plant in your country that is perennial?
• What is a perennial problem or challenge you have faced?
• Can you name a perennial favorite movie or song you like? Why do you think it stays popular?