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How to Say "bare" in Spanish

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desnudo

des-NOO-dohdezˈnuðo

adjectiveA2general
Use 'desnudo' when referring to a person or animal lacking clothing or being completely exposed.
A simple storybook illustration of a human figure standing outdoors in a green field, clearly without any clothing.

Examples

El niño corría desnudo por la playa.

The child ran bare on the beach.

Estaba tan caliente que el bebé dormía desnudo.

It was so hot that the baby slept naked.

Los árboles están desnudos en invierno, sin hojas.

The trees are bare in winter, without leaves.

El suelo desnudo del estudio era de cemento pulido.

The bare floor of the studio was polished concrete.

Matching the Noun

As an adjective, 'desnudo' must change its ending to match the thing it describes. It can be: desnudo (masculine singular), desnuda (feminine singular), desnudos (masculine plural), or desnudas (feminine plural).

Barefoot vs. Naked

Mistake: “Using 'desnudo' when you mean 'barefoot' (descalzo).”

Correction: If someone is only missing shoes, use 'descalzo'. 'Desnudo' means without clothes entirely (or mostly).

descubierto

des-koo-BYER-tohdeskuˈβjeɾto

adjectiveA2general
Use 'descubierto' when something is uncovered or exposed to the elements, like a head in the sun or an unroofed building.
A simple wooden storage box standing on a surface. The lid is completely removed and placed beside the box, showing the empty interior.

Examples

Dejó la cabeza descubierta bajo el sol fuerte y se quemó.

He left his head uncovered under the strong sun and got burned.

Las ruinas históricas quedaron descubiertas tras la excavación.

The historical ruins were left exposed after the excavation.

Adjective Agreement

As an adjective, 'descubierto' must change its ending (-o, -a, -os, -as) to match the person or thing it describes in both gender and number.

pelado

peh-LAH-dohpeˈlaðo

adjectiveA2general
Use 'pelado' to describe something stripped of its outer layer (like fruit) or something plain, unadorned, or lacking furniture.
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.

Desnudo vs. Descubierto

Learners often confuse 'desnudo' and 'descubierto'. Remember that 'desnudo' typically applies to living beings without clothes, while 'descubierto' refers to something exposed to the environment or lacking a covering.

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