negro
“negro” means “black” in Spanish. It has 5 different meanings depending on context:
black
📝 In Action
Mi gato es completamente negro.
A1My cat is completely black.
Prefiero la camiseta negra a la blanca.
A2I prefer the black t-shirt to the white one.
El cielo se puso negro antes de la tormenta.
B1The sky turned black before the storm.
dark, bleak, gloomy
Also: furious, angry
📝 In Action
Tengo un futuro muy negro si no apruebo este examen.
B1I have a very bleak future if I don't pass this exam.
Sus chistes siempre tienen un humor muy negro.
B2His jokes always have a very dark sense of humor.
Mi jefe estaba negro porque llegué tarde otra vez.
B2My boss was furious because I arrived late again.
illegal, undeclared, black
📝 In Action
Compró su teléfono en el mercado negro.
B2He bought his phone on the black market.
Mucha gente trabaja en negro para evitar los impuestos.
B2A lot of people work 'in black' (off the books) to avoid taxes.
black
📝 In Action
El negro es un color muy elegante.
A2Black is a very elegant color.
Viste de negro casi todos los días.
B1She dresses in black almost every day.
Black person
📝 In Action
Martin Luther King Jr. fue un líder de los derechos de los negros en Estados Unidos.
B1Martin Luther King Jr. was a leader of Black people's rights in the United States.
La nueva senadora es una mujer negra muy inteligente.
B1The new senator is a very intelligent Black woman.
Vocabulary Collections
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: negro
Question 1 of 1
In the sentence 'Tuvo un día negro en la oficina', what does 'negro' mean?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'niger', which meant 'black', 'dark', or 'gloomy'. This direct link is why so many of its meanings, both literal and figurative, relate to darkness.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it offensive to call a person 'negro' in Spanish?
It can be, and you should be very careful. In some parts of Latin America, it's a common and affectionate term for a loved one (like 'honey' or 'darling'). In other places, or said by a stranger, it can be offensive. The safest approach is to avoid using it to describe people unless you are sure of the local custom and your relationship with the person. Phrases like 'persona de raza negra' are more neutral and formal.
Why does 'negro' have so many meanings, like 'illegal' or 'sad'?
This happens in many languages! The basic color 'black' is often associated with darkness, night, and mystery. Over time, people started using it metaphorically to talk about sad feelings ('a dark mood'), hidden activities ('black market'), and bad luck. It's an extension of the word's original meaning.
How do I know when to use negro, negra, negros, or negras?
It has to match the noun it's describing in two ways: gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural). - 'el zapato negro' (masculine, singular) - 'la camisa negra' (feminine, singular) - 'los zapatos negros' (masculine, plural) - 'las camisas negras' (feminine, plural)