tinte
/ˈtinte/masculine
The English word dye is tinte in Spanish. Wiktionary also lists tintura.
Meaning: a colourant, especially one that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is applied (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tinte | /ˈtinte/ | masculine |
| tintura | /tinˈtuɾa/ | feminine |
In Spanish, a dye refers to a colourant that has an affinity for the substrate to which it is applied. The most common and general word for any dye or coloring agent is tinte.
Which one should you use?
While tinte is the most common word for a general dye, tintura is used in more specific contexts. Tintura is the standard term for hair dye and is also used in technical, pharmaceutical or botanical contexts to refer to a liquid dye or tincture.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To describe the action of dyeing, use the verb teñir, which is an irregular verb in the present tense (for example, yo tiño for I dye). If you wish to refer to the process or the result of the coloring, such as a dyed fabric, use the noun teñido.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtinte/
Did you know?
- In some pharmaceutical contexts, tintura does not refer to a colorant but to an alcoholic extract of a plant, known in English as a 'tincture'.
- The word tinte is also used metaphorically to describe a nuance or a slight hint of a feeling or color, similar to the English word 'tinge'.
- The English word 'tint' and the Spanish word tinte are distant linguistic cousins, both sharing a common ancestor in the Latin word 'tinctura'.
Examples in context
- Ahora está llena de tinte.Now it's full of dye.This sentence shows how to use tinte to indicate something is full of dye.Tatoeba #8671950 by ajje, translation #8671952 by ajje
- ¿Dónde puedo encontrar tinte para tela de calidad?Where can I find high-quality fabric dye?
- Necesito adquirir tintura para teñir mi cabello de forma profesional.I need to acquire hair dye to professionally color my hair.
- ¿Dónde puedo comprar tinte para teñir el cabello en casa?Where can I buy hair dye to color my hair at home?
- El tinte azul es muy fuerte.The blue dye is very strong.
- Compré un tinte natural para la tela.I bought a natural dye for the fabric.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are looking at a textile shop.
- Javier¿Qué tinte prefieres para este vestido?What dye do you prefer for this dress?
- ElenaMe gustaría usar un tinte verde.I would like to use a green dye.
- JavierEse tinte quedaría muy bien.That dye would look very good.
- ElenaSí, Javier, es un color hermoso.Yes, Javier, it is a beautiful color.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dye” translations and entries tinte, tintura, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tinte, tintura, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
