Inklingo

How to Say "bald" in Spanish

English → Spanish

calvo

KAHL-bohˈkalβo

adjectiveA2general
Use 'calvo' exclusively to describe a person who is lacking hair on their head.
A high-quality illustration of the top of a person's head showing smooth skin with no hair.

Examples

Mi tío es calvo y siempre lleva gorra.

My uncle is bald and always wears a cap.

Se quedó calvo cuando era muy joven.

He went bald when he was very young.

Esa montaña está calva por falta de lluvia.

That mountain is barren due to lack of rain.

Using Ser vs. Estar with Calvo

Use 'ser' if someone is naturally bald (a permanent trait). Use 'estar' if you are commenting on how someone looks now, or if they have recently shaved their head.

Confusing 'Calvo' and 'Calvo'

Mistake: “Using 'calvoso' to say someone is going bald.”

Correction: There is no such word as 'calvoso'. Just use 'calvo' or the phrase 'se está quedando calvo' (he is going bald).

pelado

peh-LAH-dohpeˈlaðo

adjectiveA2general
Use 'pelado' to describe something that has had its skin or outer layer removed, or in some informal contexts, to describe a person with very short or no hair (though 'calvo' is more common for head-baldness).
A single orange that has been partially peeled, showing the segmented fruit inside.

Examples

Prefiero las manzanas peladas.

I prefer peeled apples.

El niño va pelado para el verano.

The boy has a buzz cut for the summer.

Era un monte pelado, sin un solo árbol.

It was a bare mountain, without a single tree.

Agreement with Objects

Like most words that describe things, this changes to 'pelada' if the object is feminine (like 'naranja') and 'pelados/peladas' for plural items.

Using 'Estar' vs 'Ser'

Use 'estar' to say a fruit is currently peeled (a state), and 'ser' if you are describing a person who is naturally bald (a characteristic).

Using it for 'skinned' knees

Mistake: “Me pelé la rodilla y ahora está pelada.”

Correction: While 'pelar' is used for the action, we usually say 'tengo la rodilla raspada' for a scrape. 'Pelado' is better for fruit or total hair removal.

Confusing 'calvo' and 'pelado'

The most common mistake is using 'pelado' when you mean someone is bald on their head. Remember that 'calvo' is the specific word for head-baldness, while 'pelado' usually refers to peeled fruit or can be a more general term for lacking a covering.

Related Translations

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