tengo el pelo rizado
/tenɡo el pelo ɾiθado/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I have curly hair" is expressed in Spanish as tengo el pelo rizado.
This phrase is used to describe one's hair as having curls. To say you have very curly hair, you can say tengo el pelo muy rizado or if you want to include that your hair is also long, use tengo el pelo rizado y largo. You can also use the verb llevar to describe having curly hair, as in Llevo el pelo rizado.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tengo el pelo rizado literally translates to 'I have the hair curly'.
Which one should you use?
If your hair is wavy rather than tightly curled, use tengo el pelo ondulado instead of rizado. You can substitute pelo with cabello to refer specifically to the hair on one's head, such as in tengo el cabello rizado.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, Tengo el pelo chino is an informal way to say "I have curly hair." In the Caribbean, Tengo el pelo crespo is used to mean "I have curly hair."
How does it change in a sentence?
When describing your own hair in Spanish, you use the definite article el (the) before pelo (hair) rather than using a possessive adjective like mi (my).
How do you pronounce it?
/tenɡo el pelo ɾiθado/
Did you know?
- The verb llevar used in Llevo el pelo rizado literally means 'to carry' or 'to wear', treating a hairstyle like a piece of clothing.
- The Spanish word pelo shares a root with the English word 'pile' when referring to the fine hair of animals.
- In certain Caribbean dialects, crespo describes hair that is not just curly, but tightly coiled or kinky.
Examples in context
- No me gusta cuando tengo el pelo rizado.I don't like it when I have curly hair.
- Hoy tengo el pelo rizado por el clima.Today I have curly hair because of the weather.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are talking about their hair styles at a cafe.
- Mateo¿Tienes el pelo liso o rizado?Do you have straight or curly hair?
- SofíaTengo el pelo rizado.I have curly hair.
- MateoA mí me gusta mucho tu pelo.I really like your hair.
- SofíaGracias, Mateo.Thanks, Mateo.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries el, pelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
