pelos
/PEH-lohs/
hair
The most common meaning of pelos is 'hair,' often referring to body hair or hair collectively.
📝 In Action
Tienes pelos de gato en el sofá.
A2You have cat hairs on the sofa.
Me depilé los pelos de las piernas.
B1I waxed the hair on my legs.
Se me ponen los pelos de punta con esa canción.
B2That song makes my hair stand on end (gives me goosebumps).
💡 Grammar Points
Hair on the Head vs. General Hair
While 'pelo' (singular) can mean hair in general, when referring specifically to the hair on someone's head, many Spanish speakers prefer the word 'cabello'. 'Pelos' often refers to body hair or individual strands.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'pelo' for the plural
Mistake: "Hay mucho pelo en el suelo."
Correction: Hay muchos pelos en el suelo. (The plural 'pelos' is usually preferred when referring to multiple individual strands, even if English uses the singular 'hair'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Goosebumps
The phrase 'ponerse los pelos de punta' (to have the hairs stand on end) is the standard way to say 'to get goosebumps' in Spanish.
This meaning refers to the idiom 'por un pelo,' meaning 'by a hair's breadth' or narrowly escaping something.
pelos(idiomatic expression)
by a hair's breadth
?narrowly escaping something
,just barely
?close call
by the skin of one's teeth
?very narrow margin
📝 In Action
Llegamos al cine por los pelos antes de que empezara la película.
B2We got to the movie theater just barely before the film started.
El coche me pasó por los pelos.
C1The car missed me by a hair's breadth.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Plural
This phrase always uses the plural form: 'por los pelos', never 'por el pelo'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using the 'Por'
Remember to include the preposition 'por' to express this meaning. It’s a complete fixed phrase.
The idiom 'no tener pelos en la lengua' (to not have hairs on the tongue) means 'to not mince words' or to speak frankly.
pelos(idiomatic expression)
to not mince words
?to speak frankly
,to be outspoken
?to be blunt
to speak one's mind
?without holding back
📝 In Action
Mi jefa no tiene pelos en la lengua y dice lo que piensa.
C1My boss doesn't mince words and says what she thinks.
A veces es bueno tener pelos en la lengua para defenderte.
C2Sometimes it's good to be outspoken to defend yourself.
💡 Grammar Points
The Negative is Common
This phrase is most often used in the negative form ('no tener pelos en la lengua') to describe someone who is very direct and honest.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing the meaning
Mistake: "Ella es muy tímida, tiene pelos en la lengua."
Correction: Ella es muy tímida, no tiene pelos en la lengua. (If someone is timid, they probably DO have hairs on their tongue—meaning they hold back their words. The idiom means the opposite: someone who is direct and has NO hairs blocking their speech.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
Saying someone 'no tiene pelos en la lengua' can be a compliment (honest) or a complaint (rude), depending on the situation.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pelos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'pelos' to mean 'just barely'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'pelo' and 'cabello'?
'Pelo' is the general word for hair, including body hair. 'Cabello' is typically used specifically and only for the hair on a person's head, especially when talking about style or beauty. However, 'pelo' is perfectly fine to use for head hair too, especially in the plural 'pelos'.
Why is 'pelos' often used when talking about hair in general?
Spanish often uses the plural form of a countable noun (like 'pelos' for individual strands) to refer to the substance or a large collective amount of that thing, especially when thinking of it as many pieces (like hair or sand).