pelo
“pelo” means “hair” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
hair
Also: fur
📝 In Action
Mi hermana tiene el pelo largo y rubio.
A1My sister has long, blonde hair.
El pelo del gato está por todo el sofá.
A2The cat's fur is all over the sofa.
Se me está cayendo mucho el pelo.
B1I'm losing a lot of hair.
I peel
Also: I shell, I pluck
📝 In Action
Yo pelo las patatas mientras tú cortas la cebolla.
A2I peel the potatoes while you chop the onion.
Siempre pelo la manzana antes de comerla.
A2I always peel the apple before eating it.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pelo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'pelo' to mean 'hair'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'pilus', which meant a single hair. Over time, in Spanish, it grew to mean both a single hair and all the hair on a head or body collectively.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between 'pelo' and 'cabello'?
'Pelo' is the general, everyday word for all kinds of hair—on your head, your arms, an animal's fur, etc. 'Cabello' is used specifically for the hair on a human head and can sound a bit more formal or technical, like what you'd hear in a hair salon ('peluquería'). When in doubt, 'pelo' is almost always the right choice.
How do I know if 'pelo' means 'hair' or 'I peel'?
Look at the words around it! If you see 'el pelo' or 'mi pelo', it's the noun 'hair'. If it's used as an action, often after 'yo' (I), like in 'Yo pelo una papa' (I peel a potato), then it's the verb. Context is key!