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calvo

KAHL-boh/ˈkalβo/

“calvo” means “bald” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

bald

Also: hairless, barren
A high-quality illustration of the top of a person's head showing smooth skin with no hair.

📝 In Action

Mi tío es calvo y siempre lleva gorra.

A2

My uncle is bald and always wears a cap.

Se quedó calvo cuando era muy joven.

B1

He went bald when he was very young.

Esa montaña está calva por falta de lluvia.

B2

That mountain is barren due to lack of rain.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • pelado (shaved/bald (informal))
  • lampiño (hairless (on face/body))

Antonyms

  • peludo (hairy)
  • poblado (thick/bushy (usually for eyebrows or beards))

Common Collocations

  • quedarse calvo – to go bald
  • completamente calvo – completely bald

bald man

Also: baldy
NounmA2informal
A friendly smiling man with a completely bald head wearing a simple green sweater.

📝 In Action

El calvo de la película es un actor muy famoso.

A2

The bald man in the movie is a very famous actor.

¿Viste a ese calvo con gafas?

A2

Did you see that bald guy with glasses?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • pelón (baldy (slang/affectionate))

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "calvo" in Spanish:

bald→bald man→baldy→barren→hairless→

🗣️ Practice in a Tongue Twister

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: calvo

Question 1 of 1

If someone shaved their head for a movie role, which verb would you likely use to describe them right now?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
calvicie(baldness) — Noun
calva(bald spot / bald woman) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
salvomalvo
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'calvus,' which meant exactly the same thing: bald.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: calvoItalian: calvoFrench: chauve

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'calvo' offensive?

Generally, no, it is a neutral descriptive word. However, calling someone 'un calvo' to their face can be rude depending on your tone, much like calling someone 'a baldy' in English.

How do I say 'bald spot'?

You can use the feminine version 'una calva' to refer specifically to a bald patch on someone's head.