moreno
“moreno” means “dark-haired” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
dark-haired, tanned
Also: dark-skinned, brown
📝 In Action
Mi hermano es moreno y tiene los ojos verdes.
A1My brother is dark-haired and has green eyes.
Estás muy moreno después de tu viaje a la playa.
A1You are very tanned after your trip to the beach.
Prefiero usar azúcar moreno para el café.
A2I prefer to use brown sugar for the coffee.
dark-haired man, dark-skinned man
📝 In Action
Aquel moreno de la camisa blanca es mi primo.
A2That dark-haired guy in the white shirt is my cousin.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "moreno" in Spanish:
brown→dark-haired→dark-haired man→dark-skinned→dark-skinned man→tanned→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: moreno
Question 1 of 3
If you spent all day at the beach and want to say you got a tan, which should you use?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Spanish word 'moro' (Moor), referring to the North African people who lived in the Iberian Peninsula for centuries.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'moreno' offensive?
Generally, no. In fact, it is often used as a term of endearment or a neutral descriptor. However, like any word describing appearance, context and tone matter.
What is the difference between 'moreno' and 'trigueño'?
'Moreno' is used everywhere for dark hair or skin. 'Trigueño' is more common in Latin America and specifically describes a 'wheat-colored' or olive skin tone.
Does 'moreno' mean the color brown?
Only for specific things like sugar or paper. For most other objects (like a brown car or brown shoes), you should use 'marrón' or 'café'.