broncearse
/bɾonθeaɾse/from spelling rules
To tan in the sun in Spanish is broncearse.
broncearse means to make your skin darker in the sun or under a lamp. Aplica protector solar antes de empezar a broncearte. means apply sunscreen before you start tanning.
Which one should you use?
broncearse is the verb, while bronceado is the noun for the tan itself. Coger color is a casual way to say to get some color, and Adquirir un bronceado is formal.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb is reflexive, so the pronoun changes with the person: me bronceo means I tan and se broncea means he or she tans.
How do you pronounce it?
The IPA is /bɾonθeaɾse/.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking countries, the expression coger color is used for tanning, but using the verb coger in Mexico or Argentina can be highly vulgar or imply sexual acts.
- While broncearse is the standard term, you may hear people use dorarse, which means 'to turn golden'. This shifts the imagery from the darkness of bronze to the brightness of gold.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, someone might say they are going to tomar sol, which literally translates to 'to take sun'.
Examples in context
- Broncearse es una actividad que muchas personas disfrutan durante el verano.Broncearse is an activity that many people enjoy during the summer.
- Durante sus vacaciones, muchos turistas desean adquirir un bronceado.During their vacation, many tourists desire to acquire a tan.
- ¡Me encanta cómo te pones morena en verano!I love how you get tan in summer!
- No olvides ponerte protector solar cuando salgas a coger color.Don't forget to put on sunscreen when you go out to get some color.
- Me encanta broncearme mientras descanso junto a la piscina en verano.I love getting a tan while lying by the pool in summer.
- Ella adquirió un bronceado hermoso durante sus vacaciones en España.She acquired a beautiful tan during her vacation in Spain.
- Encontremos un lugar cómodo en la playa y comencemos a broncearnos.Let's find a comfortable spot on the beach and start tanning.
- No te olvides de proteger tu piel mientras tomas color.Don't forget to protect your skin while you're getting some color.
- Nos pusimos muy morenos después de pasar una semana en el Caribe.We turned very tan after spending a week in the Caribbean.
- Me bronceo en la playa.I tan at the beach.
- Ella se va a broncearse con la lámpara.She is going to tan with the lamp.
- Es difícil broncearse cuando hay nubes.It is difficult to tan when there are clouds.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry broncearse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
