blanco
masculine
To describe a white person, Spanish uses blanco for a man and blanca for a woman. Persona blanca works for either.
Meaning: white person (adjective)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| blanco | masculine |
| persona blanca | neutral |
| blanca | feminine |
The word is an adjective, so it agrees with the noun: un hombre blanco, una mujer blanca, los estadounidenses blancos.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some countries güero or güera is a Mexican informal word for a light-skinned or fair-haired person, and blanco stays the neutral term.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural forms are blancos and blancas. In Spanish adjectives of race come after the noun.
When do people say it?
How people talk about race differs by country, and many use terms based on origin or heritage rather than skin color.
Did you know?
- Spanish capitalizes neither blanco nor negro when they describe people, unlike some English style guides.
Examples in context
- Ella es una mujer blanca.She is a white woman.
- El formulario pide si eres blanco, negro o asiático.The form asks whether you are white, Black or Asian.
- Los vecinos son una familia blanca.The neighbors are a white family.
Example conversation
An official, Señora Rojas, helps Tom fill out a form.
- Señora RojasEn esta casilla va su origen.Your background goes in this box.
- Tom¿Debo marcar blanco?Should I mark white?
- Señora RojasSí, si ese es su caso.Yes, if that applies to you.
