How to Say "fuzz" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “fuzz” is “pelos” — use this word for general, fine, soft hairs or fibers found on surfaces, like lint or pet hair.
pelos
PEH-lohsˈpelos
Examples
Hay pelos en mi jersey nuevo.
There is fuzz on my new sweater.
Tienes pelos de gato en el sofá.
You have cat hairs on the sofa.
Me depilé los pelos de las piernas.
I waxed the hair on my legs.
Se me ponen los pelos de punta con esa canción.
That song makes my hair stand on end (gives me goosebumps).
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.
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'.)
vello
bey-yoˈbeʝo
Examples
El vello de esta fruta es casi imperceptible.
The fuzz on this fruit is almost imperceptible.
El vello de sus brazos es muy rubio y casi no se ve.
The hair on his arms is very blonde and can hardly be seen.
Sentí un escalofrío y se me erizó el vello de la nuca.
I felt a chill and the hair on the back of my neck stood up.
Mucha gente prefiere eliminar el vello corporal en verano.
Many people prefer to remove body hair in the summer.
Vello vs. Pelo
Use 'vello' for the short, fine hair on your body. Use 'pelo' or 'cabello' for the longer hair on your head.
A Masculine Word
This word is masculine, so always use it with 'el' (the) or 'un' (a).
Biological Use
In science or gardening, this word describes the protective soft layer on leaves or skins.
The 'V' vs 'B' Mix-up
Mistake: “Using 'bello' to describe body hair.”
Correction: Use 'vello' with a 'V'. While they sound exactly the same, 'bello' with a 'B' means 'beautiful'.
Pelos vs. Vello for 'Fuzz'
Related Translations
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