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How to Say "curls" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “curls” is “chinos” — use 'chinos' to describe small, tight, and often naturally occurring ringlets in hair..

English → Spanish

chinos

CHEE-nohsˈtʃinos

nounA2informal
Use 'chinos' to describe small, tight, and often naturally occurring ringlets in hair.
A close-up illustration of a person's head showing a mass of thick, small, bouncy, tight curls of dark hair.

Examples

Mi hermano tiene el pelo rizado y lleno de chinos.

My brother has curly hair full of tight curls.

Ella tiene el pelo lleno de chinos naturales.

She has hair full of natural curls.

Me gusta cómo te quedan esos chinos grandes.

I like how those big curls look on you.

Using 'Chinos' for Hair

Even when referring to a person's entire head of curly hair, 'chinos' is usually used in the plural, often with the verb 'tener' (to have).

ondas

/ON-dahs//ˈondas/

nounB1
Use 'ondas' to refer to looser, softer, and more wave-like curls in hair.
A close-up of a person's head showing luxurious, neatly styled brown hair featuring soft, uniform waves.

Examples

Después de usar las planchas, mi pelo quedó con unas ondas bonitas.

After using the straighteners, my hair was left with pretty waves.

Me gusta cómo te quedan esas ondas naturales en el cabello.

I like how those natural waves look in your hair.

La peluquera me hizo unas ondas perfectas para la boda.

The hairdresser gave me perfect waves for the wedding.

Confusing Tight Curls with Waves

The most common mistake is using 'ondas' for very tight, springy curls. Remember that 'chinos' specifically refers to these smaller, more compact curl types, while 'ondas' are broader and more relaxed.

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