castaño
/kasˈtaɲo/
The English word 'maroon' can be translated into Spanish as castaño. Wiktionary also lists bordó.
Meaning: color (adj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| castaño | /kasˈtaɲo/ |
| bordó | /boɾˈdo/ |
Which one should you use?
In English, 'maroon' often refers to a dark red. In Spanish, castaño leans more towards a chestnut or brownish-red hue, often used for hair or eyes. If you want to describe a deep, dark red color similar to burgundy or maroon, use bordó.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain and parts of Latin America, granate is used to refer to maroon. In regions like Argentina and Uruguay, bordó is the common way to refer to this specific dark red color.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/kasˈtaɲo/
Did you know?
- The word bordó is a loanword from the French city of Bordeaux, which is world-famous for producing the dark red wines that gave the color its name.
- The word granate refers to the color of the garnet gemstone, which is why it is used as a synonym for maroon in Spain.
- The term castaño is also used to describe a specific breed of horse with a reddish-brown coat, rather than just any brown horse.
Examples in context
- Tono de rojo oscuroa shade of dark red
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are choosing paint for a room.
- Alejandro¿Qué color prefieres para la pared?Which color do you prefer for the wall?
- LucíaCreo que el castaño queda muy bien.I think maroon looks very good.
- AlejandroEs un color muy elegante, Lucía.It is a very elegant color, Lucía.
- LucíaSí, vamos a comprar el castaño.Yes, let's buy the maroon one.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “maroon” translations and entries castaño, bordó, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bordó, castaño, CC BY-SA 4.0.
