piel bronceada
/pjel bɾonθeada/from spelling rules
“Tan skin” in Spanish is piel bronceada.
The phrase describes skin that has become darker after being exposed to the sun. You may also encounter piel canela, a common idiomatic expression used to describe a beautiful, warm tan or medium-brown skin tone.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of piel (skin) and bronceada (bronzed/tanned).
Which one should you use?
While piel bronceada implies a desirable tan, piel quemada refers specifically to skin that has been damaged or burned by the sun.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective bronceada must agree in gender and number with the noun piel.
Did you know?
- In some Latin American cultures, piel canela is so iconic that it is a recurring theme in folk songs and poetry to celebrate indigenous and mestizo beauty.
- The word piel is a cognate of the English word 'pelt', which refers to the skin of an animal.
- Unlike in English, where 'tanning' is a verb, Spanish uses broncear which literally means 'to bronze', treating the skin like a piece of metal.
Examples in context
- Mi amigo volvió de la playa con una piel bronceada hermosa.My friend came back from the beach with a beautiful tan.
- Me encanta estar tostado/a durante el verano.I love having a tan during the summer.
- Siempre parece tener una piel dorada.She always looks like she has a golden tan.
- Ella tiene la piel bronceada.She has tan skin.
- Tu piel bronceada se ve muy bien.Your tan skin looks very good.
- Me gusta tener la piel bronceada en verano.I like having tan skin in the summer.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are talking about her recent vacation.
- Alejandro¿Fuiste a la playa, Lucía?Did you go to the beach, Lucía?
- LucíaSí, por eso tengo la piel bronceada.Yes, that's why I have tan skin.
- AlejandroSe te ve muy bonita la piel bronceada.Your tan skin looks very pretty on you.
- LucíaGracias, Alejandro, me encanta el sol.Thanks, Alejandro, I love the sun.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries piel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
