pelo encarnado
/pelo enkaɾnado/from spelling rules
The English phrase "ingrown hair" is translated into Spanish as pelo encarnado.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of pelo (hair) and encarnado (fleshy or embedded in the flesh).
Which one should you use?
While pelo encarnado can imply thicker hair, you may use vello encarnado when referring specifically to fine, light body hair. For a more technical or clinical description of a hair that is trapped under the skin or has formed a cyst, use pelo enquistado.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, it is common to use the term Pelito enterrado to refer to an ingrown hair.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must be pluralized, resulting in pelos encarnados.
How do you pronounce it?
/pelo enkaɾnado/
Did you know?
- The word encarnado is also the Spanish word for the color 'crimson' or 'incarnadine', describing a deep red hue.
- The word encarnado shares the same Latin root as the English word 'incarnate'.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, referring to body hair as pelo instead of vello can sound slightly more blunt or unrefined.
Examples in context
- El paciente presenta un caso de pelo enquistado en la zona del cuello.The patient has a case of an ingrown hair in the neck area.
- ¡Qué fastidio! Me salió un pelito encarnado en la pierna.How annoying! I got an ingrown hair on my leg.
- Tengo un pelo encarnado en la pierna.I have an ingrown hair on my leg.
- ¿Eso que tienes es un pelo encarnado?Is that an ingrown hair you have?
- Me salió un pelo encarnado después de afeitarme.I got an ingrown hair after shaving.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are talking in the bathroom while getting ready.
- DanielLucía, ¿te duele la pierna?Lucía, does your leg hurt?
- LucíaSí, es que tengo un pelo encarnado.Yes, it's because I have an ingrown hair.
- DanielPobre, eso es muy molesto.Poor thing, that is very annoying.
- LucíaEs verdad, Daniel, me molesta mucho.It's true, Daniel, it bothers me a lot.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries encarnado, pelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
