pelo oscuro
/pelo oskuɾo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "dark hair" is translated into Spanish as pelo oscuro.
The phrase is used to describe hair that is black or brown in color. While pelo oscuro is a standard way to express this, you may also encounter cabello oscuro.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of pelo (hair) and oscuro (dark).
Which one should you use?
While pelo oscuro can refer to both dark brown and black hair, pelo negro specifically refers to hair that is black. Additionally, cabello oscuro is often used in more formal or literary contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and some parts of Central America, the word negro is used to describe black or very dark hair.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because pelo is a masculine noun, the adjective must be the masculine form oscuro rather than the feminine oscura.
How do you pronounce it?
/pelo oskuɾo/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the term moreno is used as a single word to describe someone with dark hair and tanned or brown skin.
- The word pelo is used in the common idiom tener un pelo de… to describe someone who barely possesses a certain quality, such as patience.
- The Spanish word pelo shares an ancient root with the English word 'pile', specifically in the sense of a 'fine, short hair of certain animals'.
Examples in context
- Tom y Mary tienen, ambos, el pelo oscuro.Tom and Mary both have dark hair.This sentence shows how to say that two people both have pelo oscuro.Tatoeba #5714173 by arh, translation #5699742 by CK
- Tengo el pelo oscuro.I have dark hair.This sentence is a way to state that you have pelo oscuro.Tatoeba #8281715 by GuidoW, translation #5852695 by CK
- Mi suegro tiene el pelo oscuro.My wife's father has dark hair.This sentence describes a father-in-law who has pelo oscuro.Tatoeba #10745317 by carlosalberto, translation #10745255 by carlosalberto
- Tiene el pelo oscuro y lisoHe/She has dark and straight hair.
- Su cabello es negro azabacheHis/Her hair is jet black.
- Lucía tiene el pelo castaño oscuro, casi negroLucia has dark brown hair, almost black.
- Mi amiga tiene el pelo oscuro y rizadoMy friend has dark and curly hair.
- Él tiene el pelo oscuro y onduladoHe has dark and wavy hair.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a photo of a person.
- María¿Es ella la chica del pelo oscuro?Is she the girl with dark hair?
- MateoSí, es ella.Yes, it is her.
- MaríaMateo, ¿tienes tú el pelo oscuro también?Mateo, do you have dark hair too?
- MateoNo, mi pelo es muy claro.No, my hair is very light.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries oscuro, pelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
