bronceado
/bɾonθeˈado/
The English word "tanning" is translated into Spanish as bronceado.
bronceado refers to the act of becoming tan due to sun exposure. You can use the phrase exposición al sol in more formal contexts to convey the idea of tanning as exposure to the sun. When describing a person's skin, you might use un poco bronceado/a for a bit tanned, muy bronceado/a for very tanned, bronceado/a por completo for fully tanned or un bronceado suave to describe a light tan. To protect your skin, you would use protector solar, which means sunscreen.
Meaning: act of becoming tan due to sun exposure (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word bronceado comes from the verb broncear, which means to tan or to bronze.
Which one should you use?
While bronceado is the noun used to describe the tan itself, you should use the verb broncearse when you want to describe the process of tanning or the act of getting a tan.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Spanish-speaking regions, particularly in Latin America, the informal expression agarrar color is used for getting a tan.
How does it change in a sentence?
bronceado functions as the noun for the tan, but it also serves as the past participle of the verb broncear when used as an adjective.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɾonθeˈado/
Did you know?
- While bronceado refers to a golden tan, the phrase estar tostado is sometimes used informally to describe someone who is heavily tanned, as tostado literally means 'toasted'.
- Depending on the region, some speakers use quemarse to mean tanning, though it literally means 'to burn', blurring the line between a healthy tan and a sunburn.
- In Spanish, the verb broncear is also used in the context of art and metallurgy to describe the process of coating an object in bronze.
Examples in context
- María fue al salón de bronceado.Mary went to the tanning salon.This sentence uses bronceado to refer to a tanning salon.Tatoeba #2516739 by marcelostockle, translation #1486059 by Spamster
- Necesito loción para bronceado.I need sun tanning lotion.This sentence uses bronceado to refer to tanning lotion.Tatoeba #436882 by lukaszpp, translation #436881 by lukaszpp
- Mi amiga siempre busca un bronceado perfecto en verano.My friend always seeks a perfect tan in summer.
- Este verano espero ponerme moreno en la playa.This summer, I hope to get tanned at the beach.
- Después de unas horas bajo el sol, por fin estoy agarrando color.After a few hours under the sun, I'm finally getting a tan.
- Me gusta estar bronceado/a.I like to be tanned.
- Su bronceado es muy natural.Her tan is very natural.
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are talking at the beach.
- SofíaMe encanta tu bronceado, Javier.I love your tanning, Javier.
- JavierGracias, he estado mucho tiempo al sol.Thanks, I have been in the sun for a long time.
- Sofía¿Usaste algún aceite para el bronceado?Did you use some oil for the tanning?
- JavierSí, usé uno con protector solar.Yes, I used one with sunscreen.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bronceado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
