Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| lampiño | /lamˈpiɲo/ |
| pelado | /peˈlado/ |
| desvellado | /desbeʝado/ (from spelling rules) |
| descuerado | /deskweˈɾado/ |
Spanish uses different words for "hairless" depending on whether you are describing a person without a beard, someone who is bald or a general lack of hair. The term lampiño is often used to describe a person who lacks facial hair, such as a young man without a beard. You may also encounter the expression lampiño/a de nacimiento to imply that someone is "hairless by birth."
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the specific type of hairlessness. lampiño specifically refers to a lack of facial hair or a smooth face. In contrast, pelado is the most common way to describe someone who is bald or has a shaved head. The terms desvellado and descuerado also exist to denote being hairless.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For informal or colloquial situations, you can use lampiño/a to mean hairless or smooth-faced or pelado to colloquially describe someone as bald. If you need to be formal, use the phrases desprovisto de pelo or carente de cabello.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, lampiño must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies, such as lampiñas.
How do you pronounce it?
/lamˈpiɲo/
Did you know?
- The word pelado can be used as a slang term to describe someone who is completely broke or has no money.
- The word descuerado is built from the Latin 'corium', which is the same root for the English word 'corium', a term used in anatomy to describe the deep layer of the skin.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, calling someone pelado is a common way to describe a person who is naive or easily fooled.
Examples in context
- La estatua está desprovista de pelo.The statue is hairless.
- El bebé recién nacido es carente de cabello.The newborn baby is hairless.
- Mi amigo tiene la cabeza pelada.My friend has a bald head/hairless head.
- Tengo un hermano lampiño.I have a hairless brother.
Example conversation
Mateo and María are talking about their family traits.
- MateoMira mi piel, soy muy lampiño.Look at my skin, I am very hairless.
- MaríaEs verdad, Mateo, no tienes nada de vello.It's true, Mateo, you have no hair at all.
- MateoCreo que es algo genético en mi familia.I think it is something genetic in my family.
- MaríaTienes suerte de ser así.You are lucky to be that way.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hairless” translations and entries lampiño, pelado, desvellado, descuerado, 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 descuerado, lampiño, pelado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
