cabello caoba
/kabeʝo kaoba/from spelling rules
The English phrase "mahogany hair" is translated into Spanish as cabello caoba.
This phrase is used to describe hair that possesses a reddish-brown color similar to the wood of a mahogany tree.
Which one should you use?
While cabello caoba is a standard way to express this, pelo caoba is a common alternative. In everyday speech, the word pelo is a more frequent choice for referring to hair than cabello.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can specify the hair color more explicitly by using the form cabello color caoba, which translates to "mahogany-colored hair".
Did you know?
- The word caoba is not originally Spanish but was borrowed from caoban, a word from the Taíno language of the Caribbean.
- While cabello refers specifically to the hair on a human head, the alternative pelo can refer to any hair or fur on a person or animal.
- The term caoba belongs to a group of Spanish words imported from the Americas that changed the way the Spanish language described nature and color.
Examples in context
- Ella tiene el pelo caoba oscuro y hermoso.She has beautiful dark mahogany hair.
- Su cabello caoba rojizo brilla a la luz del sol.Her reddish-brown mahogany hair shimmers in the sunlight.
- Me encanta el pelo color caoba natural de mi amiga.I love my friend's natural mahogany-colored hair.
- Ella tiene un hermoso cabello caoba.She has beautiful mahogany hair.
Example conversation
María and Mateo are talking about a new hairstyle.
- MaríaMateo, ¿te gusta mi nuevo cabello caoba?Mateo, do you like my new mahogany hair?
- MateoSí, María, el color te queda muy bien.Yes, María, the color looks great on you.
- MaríaGracias, buscaba un tono rojizo y natural.Thanks, I was looking for a reddish and natural tone.
- MateoLo lograste, es un tono muy elegante.You did it, it is a very elegant tone.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cabello, caoba, CC BY-SA 4.0.
