pelo largo
/pelo laɾɡo/from spelling rules
In Spanish, the phrase for long hair is pelo largo.
pelo largo is the standard way to describe hair on the head that has grown to a significant length. While pelo is a general term for hair, the word cabello is a more refined term used specifically for the hair on a person's head.
Which one should you use?
pelo largo is the most common way to express this, but cabello largo serves as a more formal or literary alternative when referring to the hair on one's head.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the colloquial expression melenón is used instead of melena larga to refer to long hair.
How does it change in a sentence?
When describing someone's hair in Spanish, you typically use the definite article el instead of a possessive adjective like 'su' (his/her) to indicate possession. Because pelo is a masculine noun, the adjective largo must agree with it. It remains largo even if the person being described is female.
How do you pronounce it?
/pelo laɾɡo/
Did you know?
- In Spain, the word melena for a long head of hair is shared with the term for a lion's mane.
- The word largo eventually replaced an older Spanish word, luengo, which was a more direct descendant of the Latin word for 'long'.
- While pelo is the common word for hair, the more refined term cabello is derived from cabeza, meaning 'head'.
Examples in context
- Tiene el pelo largo.She has long hair.This sentence shows how to use pelo largo to describe someone.Tatoeba #1136114 by Shishir, translation #315861 by CK
- Tengo el pelo largo.I've got long hair.This sentence shows how to use pelo largo to describe oneself.Tatoeba #6168133 by cueyayotl, translation #5166507 by CK
- Ella tiene el pelo largo.She has got long hair.This sentence shows how to use pelo largo to describe a female subject.Tatoeba #618638 by Shishir, translation #526281 by sundown
- tiene el pelo largoHe/she has long hair
- La modelo tiene el pelo largo y sedoso.The model has long and silky hair.
- Mi abuela siempre ha tenido el pelo largo y hermoso.My grandmother has always had long and beautiful hair.
- ¡Mira qué melena larga tiene Laura!Look at Laura's long hair!
- Me encanta tu pelo largo.I love your long hair.
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are talking about a new hairstyle at a salon.
- Alejandro¿Te gusta mi estilo?Do you like my style?
- LucíaSí, pero prefiero el pelo largo.Yes, but I prefer long hair.
- AlejandroLucía, ¿quieres cortarte el tuyo?Lucía, do you want to cut yours?
- LucíaNo, me encanta mi pelo largo.No, I love my long hair.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries largo, pelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
