Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pardo | /ˈpaʁ.du/ (Brazil) /ˈpaɾ.du/ (São Paulo) |
masculine |
| burro quando foge | ||
| trigueiro | masculine | |
| ruço | /ˈʁu.su/ (Brazil) /ˈʁu.su/ (Rio de Janeiro) |
masculine |
The term describes a color ranging from light brown to a brownish orange. In formal or technical contexts, the compound word Amarelo-amarronzado may be used to define the color specifically as a mixture of yellow and brown.
Which one should you use?
While pardo can be used to describe a tawny color, it is very commonly used in Brazil as a racial descriptor for people of mixed or brown skin.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree with the nouns it describes. The masculine singular form is pardo, which changes to parda for feminine nouns. For plural nouns, use pardos for masculine plural and pardas for feminine plural.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈpaʁ.du/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The adjective pardo is a direct descendant of the Latin pardus, which referred to a leopard.
- The phrase burro quando foge is a colorful way to describe a tawny color, but it literally translates to 'donkey when it flees'.
- The word trigueiro derives from trigo, meaning 'wheat', used to describe a tawny or wheat-colored complexion.
Examples in context
- Os tijolos possuem uma tonalidade amarelo-amarronzada.The bricks have a tawny shade.
- O verão deixa minha pele com um tom marrom claro que eu adoro.Summer gives my skin a tawny shade that I love.
Example conversation
Mariana and Lucas are looking at fabric samples for a new curtain.
- MarianaVocê prefere o tecido bege ou o pardo?Do you prefer the beige or the tawny fabric?
- LucasEu acho que o pardo combina mais.I think the tawny one matches better.
- MarianaO tom pardo é bem elegante, Lucas.The tawny tone is very elegant, Lucas.
- LucasConcordo, vamos levar esse então.I agree, let's take that one then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tawny” translations and entries pardo, ruço, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries burro, pardo, quando, ruço, CC BY-SA 4.0.
