hombre calvo
/ombɾe kalbo/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'bald man' is translated into Spanish as hombre calvo.
This phrase is used to describe a man who has little or no hair on his head.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of hombre (man) and calvo (bald).
Which one should you use?
You may also encounter hombre pelón or simply the word pelón to refer to a bald person or a baldhead.
Did you know?
- The word hombre comes from a prehistoric root meaning 'earthling'. This connects the Spanish word for 'man' to the very ground of the earth.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, calling a child pelón is a common term of endearment, even if the child is not actually bald.
- While calvo is neutral, using pelón can shift from an affectionate nickname to a derogatory slur depending entirely on the speaker's tone and relationship with the person.
Examples in context
- El hombre calvo lideró la reunión con gran sabiduría y experiencia.The bald man led the meeting with great wisdom and experience.
- ¡Mira ese hombre pelón! Creo que es el dueño del restaurante.Look at that bald man! I think he's the owner of the restaurant.
- Ese hombre calvito siempre tiene una historia interesante que contar.That bald man always has an interesting story to tell.
- Aquel hombre calvo es mi tío.That bald man is my uncle.
- Vi a un hombre calvo en el parque.I saw a bald man in the park.
- Ese hombre calvo lleva una camisa azul.That bald man is wearing a blue shirt.
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are looking at people in a cafe.
- Sofía¿Viste al hombre calvo de la mesa allí?Did you see the bald man at that table over there?
- DanielSí, el hombre calvo parece muy simpático.Yes, the bald man looks very friendly.
- SofíaCreo que es un actor famoso.I think he is a famous actor.
- DanielNo estoy seguro, pero es muy alto.I'm not sure, but he is very tall.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries calvo, hombre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
