perle

Perle is a term with several distinct meanings in different languages and contexts. In French, German and several other languages, perle is the word for pearl, the rounded gem produced by mollusks. Pearls are valued for luster and color and occur naturally or are cultivated, with major varieties including Akoya, South Sea and Tahitian pearls, and production methods that influence shape, size and surface quality. In jewelry, the term perle is often used in product descriptions in French-speaking markets.

Perle also appears as a proper name. It is used as a given name, most notably by Perle Mesta (1889–1975), an American socialite and ambassador to Luxembourg, and it can function as a surname in various cultures.

Perle is the name of a company as well: Perle Systems, a manufacturer of network and communication hardware known for serial interfaces and Ethernet connectivity products.

See also: Pearl (disambiguation) for related uses in English, including other spellings, media titles and places.