mujer negra
/muxeɾ neɡɾa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "black woman" is translated into Spanish as mujer negra.
The phrase describes a woman with dark skin who is of African or African descent.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is structured as mujer negra, which literally translates to "woman black".
Which one should you use?
While mujer negra is the standard term, other options exist depending on the context. Mujer afrodescendiente is a more formal and politically sensitive alternative used in many Spanish-speaking contexts. Chica negra is used to refer to a young Black woman or a close acquaintance.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Caribbean and parts of Latin America, Morena is often used informally to refer to a Black woman.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective negra must agree in gender with the feminine noun mujer. When talking about more than one person, the plural form is mujeres negras, where both the noun and the adjective are pluralized.
How do you pronounce it?
/muxeɾ neɡɾa/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, negra is used as a loving nickname for a partner or family member even if they have fair skin.
- The word morena is highly ambiguous and can refer to a woman with dark hair, tanned skin or African descent.
- The word mujer comes from the Latin mulierem, which is also a distant relative of the Portuguese word mulher.
Examples in context
- Hoy conocí a una mujer negra muy inteligente.Today, I met a very intelligent Black woman.
- Mi amiga es una chica negra muy divertida.My friend is a very fun Black girl.
- La reconocida escritora es una dama afrodescendiente.The renowned writer is an Afro-descendant lady.
- Ella es una mujer negra.She is a black woman.
- La actriz es una mujer negra muy talentosa.The actress is a very talented black woman.
- Esa mujer negra es mi vecina.That black woman is my neighbor.
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are discussing a new painting in a gallery.
- SofíaMira esa pintura de la mujer negra.Look at that painting of the black woman.
- DanielEs muy hermosa, Sofía.It is very beautiful, Sofía.
- SofíaSí, el artista capturó muy bien su expresión.Yes, the artist captured her expression very well.
- DanielTienes razón, Daniel está de acuerdo contigo.You are right, Daniel agrees with you.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mujer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
