canas
/kanas/from spelling rules
The English phrase "gray hair" is translated into Spanish as canas.
The term refers to gray hair. You can also use the adjective canoso or canosa to describe a person with gray hair.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word canas is typically used in the plural to refer to gray hair in general, but the singular form una cana can be used to refer to a single strand of gray hair.
How do you pronounce it?
/kanas/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the expression sacar canas verdes literally means 'to grow green gray hairs' and is used to describe someone who is driving you crazy or testing your patience.
- In some dialects, people use the phrase tener canas en el alma to describe a deep, spiritual weariness or a life full of hardships.
- The word canas shares a linguistic root with the Latin word canus, which specifically describes a white or gray color rather than just a lack of pigment.
Examples in context
- Tiene muchas canas.She has a lot of gray hair.Tatoeba #2259127 by hayastan, translation #2259126 by _undertoad
- A los 40 años, él ya tenía muchas canas.At 40, he already had a lot of gray hair.
- Mi abuela tiene el pelo gris y parece muy elegante.My grandmother has gray hair and looks very elegant.
- Aunque tiene solo 35 años, tiene algunos cabellos blancos.Even though he is only 35, he has some white hairs.
- Aquel hombre mayor tiene cabellos canosos y una sonrisa amable.That older man has gray hair and a kind smile.
- Mi abuela siempre ha tenido el pelo canoso y se ve muy distinguida.My grandmother has always had gray hair, and she looks very distinguished.
- Me están saliendo las primeras canas.I am starting to get my first gray hairs.
- No me gustan mis canas.I don't like my gray hairs.
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are talking about hair care at a cafe.
- Sofía¿Te vas a teñir el pelo?Are you going to dye your hair?
- DanielNo, quiero dejarme las canas.No, I want to keep my gray hair.
- SofíaTe quedan muy bien las canas.The gray hair looks very good on you.
- DanielGracias, Sofía.Thanks, Sofía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
