What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of piel (skin) and clara (light/clear/fair).
Which one should you use?
While piel clara is the standard way to describe light skin, piel blanca can be used to specifically mean white skin. In an informal context, you might hear piel de porcelana to describe someone with extremely light or fair porcelain skin.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, both piel clara and piel blanca are frequently used in both formal and informal settings. In Argentina, the term trigueño/a is sometimes used to describe someone with light olive-toned skin.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because piel is a feminine noun, the adjective must be the feminine form clara rather than the masculine claro. To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must take the plural suffix to become pieles claras.
Did you know?
- While clara means 'light' in this phrase, it is the same word used to describe the egg white in Spanish, known as la clara del huevo.
- The word piel shares an ancient root with the English word 'pelt', both descending from the Latin 'pellis'.
- Spanish has a wide variety of terms for light-to-medium skin tones, such as trigueño, which literally refers to the color of wheat (trigo).
Examples in context
- Ella tiene piel claraShe has light skin
- Él tiene tez claraHe has light skin
- La modelo tiene piel blancaThe model has light skin
- Tiene la piel claraHe/She has light skin
- Tiene piel de porcelanaHe/She has porcelain-like skin
- Ella tiene la piel clara.She has light skin.
- Busco una base para piel clara.I am looking for a foundation for light skin.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are talking about skincare.
- ElenaJavier, ¿qué protector solar usas?Javier, which sunscreen do you use?
- JavierUso uno fuerte porque tengo la piel clara.I use a strong one because I have light skin.
- ElenaEs verdad, debes cuidarte mucho.That's true, you must take great care.
- JavierSí, el sol me afecta rápido.Yes, the sun affects me quickly.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries piel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
