alguien es blanco
/alɡjen es blanko/from spelling rules
To say "someone is white" in Spanish, use alguien es blanco.
This phrase is used to describe a person who has light-colored skin. You may also encounter descriptive similes like Blanco como la nieve (white as snow) or Blanco como la leche (white as milk) to describe someone with an extremely fair or very light complexion. To describe a fair-skinned person specifically with blue eyes, you would say Güero de ojos azules.
Which one should you use?
The phrase uses the verb ser because skin color is viewed as a defining characteristic or identity rather than a temporary state.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term Güero(a) is common slang in Latin American countries, especially in Mexico, for describing someone with light or fair skin.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree with the gender of the person being described. Use alguien es blanca if the person is female. If the gender of the person is unknown or unspecified, use the masculine form alguien es blanco.
Did you know?
- The Spanish word blanco comes from a Proto-Germanic root meaning 'bright' or 'blinding' rather than just 'white'. It is a distant relative of the English word 'blank'.
- While blanco describes skin color, the phrase quedarse en blanco is used when someone suddenly forgets everything they were going to say, similar to the English 'my mind went blank'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone blanco can be a neutral description, but using güero in Mexico can sometimes be used as a friendly or playful nickname regardless of the person's actual race.
Examples in context
- Él es blancoHe is white
- Ella es blancaShe is white
- Mi tío tiene la piel claraMy uncle has light skin.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are discussing a family tree.
- DanielMira este retrato, ¿crees que alguien es blanco aquí?Look at this portrait, do you think someone is white here?
- ElenaSí, el hombre de la izquierda parece serlo.Yes, the man on the left seems to be.
- DanielEs curioso cómo cambia la piel en la familia.It's curious how skin changes in the family.
- ElenaTienes razón, Daniel, es muy variado.You are right, Daniel, it is very varied.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alguien, blanco, es, CC BY-SA 4.0.
