mi pelo
/mi pelo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "my hair" is translated into Spanish as mi pelo.
The phrase is used to refer to the hair growing on a person's head. While the word pelo can refer to any hair on a person's body, the term cabello is used specifically for the hair on the head.
Which one should you use?
mi pelo is a common way to refer to hair, while mi cabello is a more formal or elegant alternative. If you are focusing on a few individual strands or specific hairs, you can use the plural form mis pelos.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, it is common to use mi melena to refer to hair that is particularly long, thick or voluminous.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because pelo is a masculine singular noun, any adjectives used to describe it must also be masculine and singular.
How do you pronounce it?
/mi pelo/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word pelo shares a common ancestor with the English word 'pile', a connection that traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root *pil-.
- If a speaker says they have un pelo of something, they are not talking about hair, but are instead saying they have a tiny amount of that thing.
- The phrase ponerse los pelos de punta describes the sensation of your hair standing on end, but it is used specifically to express terror or extreme shock.
Examples in context
- Mi pelo es gris.My hair is gray.This sentence is useful for describing the color of mi pelo.Tatoeba #9188726 by ignacio, translation #9188554 by CK
- Mi pelo es largo.My hair is long.This sentence is useful for describing the length of mi pelo.Tatoeba #6795694 by arh, translation #6196181 by CK
- Mi pelo es rubio.My hair is blond.Tatoeba #9191618 by ignacio, translation #9190943 by CK
- Me gusta cuidar mi cabello para mantenerlo saludable.I like to take care of my hair to keep it healthy.
- ¡Tengo un nuevo corte de pelo! Me encanta mi pelo ahora.I have a new haircut! I love my hair now.
- Adoro mi melena rizada.I adore my curly hair.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are talking about a new haircut.
- MateoMira, corté mi pelo ayer.Look, I cut my hair yesterday.
- SofíaTe queda muy bien, Mateo.It looks great on you, Mateo.
- MateoGracias, mi pelo estaba muy largo.Thanks, my hair was very long.
- SofíaAhora se ve mucho mejor.Now it looks much better.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mi, pelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
