Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pelo | /ˈpelo/ | masculine |
| cabello | /kaˈbeʝo/ | masculine |
| pelamen | /pelamen/ (from spelling rules) | colloquial, masculine |
| cabellera | /kabeˈʝeɾa/ | feminine |
| pelambrera | /pelambɾeɾa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
The term is used to describe the filaments on a human head, but pelo also refers to the fur or hair of animals.
Which one should you use?
While pelo is the common word for hair, cabello is a more formal or elegant term often used in literature or hair care contexts. Cabellera refers to a large, thick or beautiful mass of hair on the head rather than individual strands. Pelamen is a colloquial term used to describe a large amount of hair, often in a slightly humorous or descriptive way.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Cabello is a formal term. Pelamen is used colloquially, and pelazo is a slang term used to compliment someone's hair.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Pelo is more commonly utilized in Spain than in Latin American countries.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpelo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the plural los pelos to refer to a person's hair. Instead, use the singular el pelo as a collective noun for the whole head of hair.
Did you know?
- The Spanish word cabello shares the same root as the English word 'capillary', referring to the tiny blood vessels in the body.
- In Spanish, the phrase por un pelo is used to say that something almost happened, similar to the English 'by a hair' or 'by a whisker'.
- While cabello sounds more elegant, calling someone's hair pelambrera often implies it is wild, overgrown or messy.
Examples in context
- Su pelo es feo.Your hair is ugly.This sentence is useful for describing hair quality using pelo.Tatoeba #6795702 by arh, translation #8174342 by magnificentgoddess
- Le tocó el pelo.He touched her hair.This sentence is useful for describing an action involving pelo.Tatoeba #5115126 by don_ramon, translation #2929385 by Hybrid
- Mi pelo es gris.My hair is gray.This-sentence is useful for describing hair color using pelo.Tatoeba #9188726 by ignacio, translation #9188554 by CK
- Tengo los pelos de puntaI have goosebumps
- ¡Tienes un pelazo increíble!You have amazing hair!
- Mi cabello está muy largo y necesito un corte.My hair is very long and I need a haircut.
- Ella siempre ha tenido un pelo hermoso y brillante.She has always had beautiful and shiny hair.
- ¡Tienes un pelazo! ¿Qué producto usas?You have amazing hair! What product do you use?
- Me encanta tu melena larga, se ve muy bien en ti.I love your long hair, it looks great on you.
- 505 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are at a hair salon.
- Mateo¿Te gusta cómo quedó tu pelo?Do you like how your hair turned out?
- LucíaSí, me encanta mi pelo nuevo.Yes, I love my new hair.
- MateoEl color de tu pelo es muy bonito.Your hair color is very pretty.
- LucíaGracias, Mateo.Thanks, Mateo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hair” translations and entries pelo, cabello, cabellera, pelambrera, 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 cabellera, cabello, pelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
