rubio
/ˈrubjo/
In Spanish, rubio refers to a person who has fair or blonde hair.
The word is primarily used to describe hair color, but it is also commonly used as a noun to mean 'a blonde person'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word must agree in gender and number with the person or people being described. Use the feminine form rubia for a woman, and the masculine plural form rubios for a group of men or a mixed-gender group. For a group consisting only of women, use the feminine plural form rubias.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈrubjo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use rubio to describe someone with red hair. Use pelirrojo instead.
Did you know?
- The word rubio comes from the Latin rubeus, which meant 'red'.
- While rubio is the standard term, some regions use the word catire to refer to a blonde person, particularly in Venezuela.
- In some Latin American countries, rubio is occasionally used as a generic term for any person with fair skin, regardless of their actual hair color.
Examples in context
- Buenos días, Señor Rubio. ¿Cómo puedo ayudarle hoy?Good morning, Mr. Rubio. How may I assist you today?
- Hola, Rubio. ¿Vienes a la fiesta esta noche?Hi, Rubio. Are you coming to the party tonight?
- Él es un chico rubio.He is a blonde boy.
- Mi hermano es muy rubio.My brother is very blonde.
- Ese hombre rubio es mi primo.That blonde man is my cousin.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a person they saw at a party.
- María¿Viste al chico rubio de la fiesta?Did you see the blonde boy from the party?
- JavierSí, lo vi cerca de la entrada.Yes, I saw him near the entrance.
- MaríaEs muy simpático, el chico rubio.He is very nice, the blonde boy.
- JavierSí, parece una buena persona.Yes, he seems like a good person.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry rubio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rubio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
