Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| negro | /ˈneɡɾo/ |
| prieto | /ˈpɾjeto/ |
| renegrido | /reneɡɾido/ (from spelling rules) |
The primary way to express the color black, meaning absorbing all light, is with the adjective negro. This same word is also used as a noun to refer to the color itself.
Which one should you use?
While negro refers to the color black, moreno is the preferred, more neutral term to describe a person with dark hair or tanned/dark skin. The term prieto can mean black or very dark, but it is often used to describe skin tones and can carry different connotations depending on the region.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, locals might use the term moreno to describe black, especially when referring to people.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective negro must agree in gender with the noun it modifies, changing to negra for feminine nouns. The adjective negro must agree in number with the noun it modifies, taking the forms negros or negras.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈneɡɾo/
When do people say it?
The term moreno/a is used when referring to people with dark or black hair.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, calling a close friend or loved one negro or negra is a common term of endearment. This usage is often affectionate and independent of the person's actual skin tone.
- The word prieto is actually a relative of the verb apretar, meaning 'to squeeze'. It evolved from the idea of something being so 'compressed' or 'dense' that it becomes a dark, thick color.
- Spanish has the word renegrido, which describes something that has become black over time, often due to heat or soot, rather than being naturally black.
Examples in context
- El oso es negro.The bear is black.This sentence is useful for describing the color of a bear using negro.Tatoeba #6864195 by albrusgher, translation #5894557 by captcrouton
- Tu gato es negro.Your cat is black.This sentence is useful for describing the color of a cat using negro.Tatoeba #3191628 by cueyayotl, translation #3189153 by zumley
- Es un hoyo negro.It is a black hole.This sentence is useful for describing a black hole using negro.Tatoeba #3466188 by cueyayotl, translation #1479375 by AsliAbbasi
- El vestido es negroThe dress is black
- La puerta es negraThe door is black
- Ella es una chica morenaShe is a dark-haired girl
- 283 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are looking at a new piece of fabric in a shop.
- ElenaEsa tela es de un negro muy intenso.That fabric is a very intense black.
- MateoSí, es un color negro muy profundo.Yes, it is a very deep black color.
- ElenaParece que absorbe toda la luz.It looks like it absorbs all the light.
- MateoEs perfecto para lo que necesitamos.It is perfect for what we need.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “black” translations and entries negro, prieto, renegrido, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries negro, prieto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
