tengo el pelo negro
/tenɡo el pelo neɡɾo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I have black hair" is translated into Spanish as tengo el pelo negro.
This phrase is used to state the color of the hair on one's head.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of tengo (I have), el pelo (the hair) and negro (black).
Which one should you use?
While English uses "have" to describe hair color, Spanish uses the definite article el before pelo to indicate the hair as a whole.
Is it said differently in some regions?
There is a slight preference for the word pelo in Latin America, whereas there is a slight preference for the word cabello in Spain.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can substitute pelo with cabello to refer to the hair on one's head.
How do you pronounce it?
/tenɡo el pelo neɡɾo/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone negro or negrita as a nickname is a term of endearment and does not always relate to their actual hair or skin color.
- The Spanish word pelo shares a common ancestor with the English word 'pile', referring to the fine, short hair found on animals.
- In Spanish, the word negro is often used to describe hair that is actually a very dark brown, as true jet-black hair is relatively rare.
Examples in context
- Tengo el pelo negro.I have black hair
- Tengo el pelo negro y liso.I have black and straight hair
- Mi cabello es negro y rizado.My hair is black and curly
- Tengo el pelo negro y corto.I have black and short hair
- Mi cabello es negro y largo.My hair is black and long
- No soy rubia, tengo el pelo negro.I am not blonde, I have black hair.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are talking about their physical traits.
- ElenaMira mi foto, yo tengo el pelo negro.Look at my photo, I have black hair.
- JavierEs verdad, Elena. Yo tengo el pelo castaño.That is true, Elena. I have brown hair.
- ElenaTengo el pelo negro como mi padre.I have black hair like my father.
- JavierTú y él se parecen mucho.You and he look very similar.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries el, negro, pelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
