castaño
/kasˈtaɲo/masculine
The English word auburn is translated into Spanish as castaño. Wiktionary also lists bermejo.
Meaning: reddish-brown (adj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| castaño | /kasˈtaɲo/ | masculine |
| bermejo | /beɾˈmexo/ |
castaño is the most common way to describe hair that is a mix of brown and reddish tones. It can also be used as a noun to mean reddish-brown.
Which one should you use?
While castaño is the standard term for auburn hair, bermejo is used to describe a more intense, reddish-orange hue or a ruddy complexion.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Additionally, the plural feminine form castañas also refers to the edible chestnuts.
How do you pronounce it?
/kasˈtaɲo/
Did you know?
- The word bermejo is derived from the Latin word for 'little worm'. This refers to the kermes scale insect whose body was crushed to create a crimson dye.
- In Spanish, the distinction between castaño and pelirrojo is a common point of debate, as people often disagree on when brown hair becomes 'red' hair.
- The term bermejo is far less common in modern daily speech than castaño and often carries a more poetic or archaic literary tone.
Examples in context
- Mi amiga tiene el cabello castaño rojizoMy friend has auburn hair
- El bosque se torna rojizo en otoñoThe forest turns auburn in autumn
- Me gusta mucho tu cabello castaño.I really like your auburn hair.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are discussing a friend's appearance.
- Alejandro¿Cómo es el pelo de Pablo?What is Pablo's hair like?
- LucíaEs un color castaño muy bonito.It is a very beautiful auburn color.
- AlejandroNo lo sabía, pensé que era rubio.I didn't know, I thought he was blonde.
- LucíaNo, definitivamente es castaño.No, he is definitely auburn.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “auburn” translations and entries castaño, bermejo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bermejo, castaño, CC BY-SA 4.0.
