sin pelo
/sin pelo/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'no hair' can be said in Spanish as sin pelo.
The phrase is used to describe a person or animal that does not have any hair on its body.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the preposition sin (without) and the noun pelo (hair).
Which one should you use?
While sin pelo is a common and neutral way to express the concept, other terms exist depending on the context. Sin cabello is a more formal way to express 'no hair', whereas pelado is a colloquial term meaning 'bald' or 'without hair'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term calvo is primarily used in Spain and some Latin American countries to describe someone who is bald. In Mexico, the word pelón is used mainly and can carry an affectionate tone.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase sin pelo is used as an adjective phrase to describe a state and does not change its form to agree with gender or number.
How do you pronounce it?
/sin pelo/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word pelo is a distant cognate of the English word 'pile', which refers to fine, short hair on animals.
- While calvo and pelón describe baldness, the phrase sin pelo is the safest choice for animals, as calling a hairless cat calvo would sound oddly human.
- If you are talking about a person, you should avoid saying sin pelo and use calvo or pelado instead. Using sin pelo for humans can sound as if you are describing a biological state rather than a person's appearance.
Examples in context
- El hombre mayor tiene el cuero cabelludo sin pelo.The older man has a bald scalp.
- Mi amigo siempre ha sido pelado.My friend has always been bald.
- El bebé nació sin pelos en la cabeza.The baby was born with no hair on their head.
- El actor español es conocido por ser calvo.The Spanish actor is known for being bald.
- ¡Oye, pelón, tu nuevo corte de cabello te queda genial!Hey, baldy, your new haircut looks great!
- El gato sin pelo es muy suave.The hairless cat is very soft.
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are looking at photos of different dog breeds.
- LucíaMira este perro, es sin pelo.Look at this dog, it has no hair.
- DanielEs muy raro, pero me gusta.It is very strange, but I like it.
- LucíaEs ideal si tienes alergias.It is ideal if you have allergies.
- DanielTienes razón, Lucía.You are right, Lucía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pelo, sin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
