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castaño

kas-TA-nyo/kasˈtaɲo/

“castaño” means “brown” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

brown, chestnut

Also: auburn
A portrait of a person with wavy brown hair and brown eyes.

📝 In Action

Mi hermano tiene el pelo castaño y los ojos verdes.

A1

My brother has brown hair and green eyes.

Ella prefiere teñirse el pelo de un tono castaño claro.

A2

She prefers to dye her hair a light brown shade.

Ese color castaño le queda muy bien con su piel.

B1

That chestnut color looks very good on her skin.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • marrón (brown (general))
  • pardo (brownish/greyish)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • castaño claro – light brown
  • castaño oscuro – dark brown
  • pelo castaño – brown hair

Idioms & Expressions

  • pasar de castaño oscuro – to go too far or become unacceptable

chestnut tree

Also: chestnut wood
NounmB1
Spain
A large, leafy chestnut tree standing in a green field.

📝 In Action

Hay un castaño enorme en el centro del parque.

A2

There is a huge chestnut tree in the center of the park.

Esta mesa está hecha de madera de castaño.

B1

This table is made of chestnut wood.

Los castaños pierden sus hojas en otoño.

B1

Chestnut trees lose their leaves in autumn.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • madera de castaño – chestnut wood
  • un bosque de castaños – a chestnut forest

Vocabulary Collections

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "castaño" in Spanish:

auburn→chestnut tree→chestnut wood→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: castaño

Question 1 of 3

If you want to say 'She has brown eyes,' which word is best?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
castaña(chestnut (the nut)) — Noun
castañal(chestnut grove) — Noun
castañuela(castanet) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'castanea', which was the name for the chestnut tree and its nut.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: castagnoPortuguese: castanhoFrench: châtain

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'castaño' for a brown car?

No, it's better to use 'marrón'. 'Castaño' is almost exclusively reserved for hair, eyes, and the wood/tree itself.

How do I say 'light brown' hair?

Use 'pelo castaño claro'.

Is 'castaño' used for skin color?

Usually, no. For tanned or brown skin, Spanish speakers typically use 'moreno' or 'trigueño'.