calvo
/ˈkalbo/
The Spanish word for a person who has little or no hair on their head is pelon.
Which one should you use?
calvo is the standard, neutral term for 'bald', whereas pelón is more colloquial and can sometimes be used more playfully or mockingly.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective describing a person, pelón must agree in gender with the subject, changing to pelona for a female.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkalbo/
Did you know?
- In certain Caribbean cultures, pelón is used as a sweet nickname for children even if they have a full head of hair.
- In Spanish, the word pelón is closely linked to the action of preparing food, as it comes from the same root as pelar, the verb used to 'peel' a potato or an orange.
- Beyond the head, pelón can be used to describe an animal that has been plucked or a plant that has lost its leaves.
Examples in context
- Mi hermano ya está calvo.My brother is bald already.
- El actor principal es calvo.The main actor is bald.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a new coworker.
- Sofía¿Viste al nuevo empleado?Did you see the new employee?
- AlejandroSí, es un hombre calvo.Yes, he is a bald man.
- SofíaEs muy simpático.He is very nice.
- AlejandroTienes razón, Sofía.You are right, Sofía.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry calvo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
