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moro

moh-roh/ˈmoɾo/

Moorish

Also: Moor, North African
Spain
A detailed stone archway with intricate geometric patterns typical of Moorish architecture.

📝 In Action

Me encanta la arquitectura mora del sur de España.

B1

I love the Moorish architecture of southern Spain.

La historia cuenta las batallas entre cristianos y moros.

B1

History tells of the battles between Christians and Moors.

Ese estilo de alfombra tiene un diseño muy moro.

B2

That style of rug has a very Moorish design.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • magrebí (North African)
  • musulmán (Muslim)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • arquitectura mora – Moorish architecture
  • tierra de moros – Moorish land (historical)

Idioms & Expressions

  • hay moros en la costa – watch out, someone is listening or watching; the coast is not clear
  • prometer el oro y el moro – to promise the moon and the stars (promising more than one can deliver)

mixed rice and beans

Also: dark-colored horse
NounmB2
Caribbean
A ceramic bowl filled with a mixture of black beans and white rice.

📝 In Action

Hoy vamos a comer moro con pollo frito.

B1

Today we are going to eat rice and beans with fried chicken.

El jinete montaba un hermoso caballo moro.

C1

The rider was mounting a beautiful dark-colored horse.

El moro de guandules es un plato típico en mi país.

B2

Rice with pigeon peas is a typical dish in my country.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • congrí (Cuban rice and beans)

Common Collocations

  • moro de habichuelas – rice and beans
  • caballo moro – dark/black horse

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "moro" in Spanish:

dark-colored horse→moor→moorish→north african→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: moro

Question 1 of 3

What does the expression 'Hay moros en la costa' mean?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
morería(Moorish quarter/neighborhood) — Noun
morisco(Moorish (specifically regarding converts to Christianity)) — Adjective
moruno(Moorish-style (e.g., pinchos morunos)) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'Maurus', which was used by Romans to describe the inhabitants of the province of Mauretania (modern-day Maghreb).

First recorded: 12th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: MoorFrench: maure

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'moro' a bad word?

It can be. In history and food contexts, it is neutral. However, using it to refer to North African people today can be seen as a racial slur or derogatory depending on the tone and region. Use 'marroquí' or 'magrebí' to be safe.

What is the difference between 'moro' and 'moreno'?

'Moro' refers specifically to Moorish/North African heritage or a rice dish. 'Moreno' simply means dark-haired or tanned/dark-skinned and is generally used as a physical description.

Why is the rice dish called 'moro'?

It is a symbolic name referring to the dark color of the beans (representing the 'Moros') mixed with the white rice (representing the 'Cristianos').