Inklingo

How to Say "tanned" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “tanned” is “moreno” — use 'moreno' when referring to a natural skin tone that is darker, which can be further deepened by sun exposure, or when describing someone with darker hair and eyes..

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moreno

/mo-REH-noh//moˈɾeno/

adjectiveA1general
Use 'moreno' when referring to a natural skin tone that is darker, which can be further deepened by sun exposure, or when describing someone with darker hair and eyes.
A close-up illustration of a person with thick, dark brown hair.

Examples

Mi hermano es moreno y tiene los ojos verdes.

My brother is dark-haired and has green eyes.

Estás muy moreno después de tu viaje a la playa.

You are very tanned after your trip to the beach.

Prefiero usar azúcar moreno para el café.

I prefer to use brown sugar for the coffee.

The Tan vs. The Trait

Use 'ser' with moreno to describe someone's natural hair or skin color. Use 'estar' if you want to say someone looks tanned because they've been in the sun.

Gender Changes

Remember to change the ending to -a (morena) when describing a woman or a feminine object, like 'azúcar' (masculine) vs 'piel' (feminine).

Confusing 'moreno' with 'negro'

Mistake: “Using 'moreno' to describe a person of African descent when you mean 'Black'.”

Correction: While 'moreno' is a polite way to say dark-skinned, 'negro' is the standard word for Black. 'Moreno' usually implies brunette or tanned.

tostado

/tos-TAH-doh//tosˈtaðo/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'tostado' specifically to describe the darker skin color acquired as a result of sunbathing or spending time in the sun.
A person with sun-kissed skin wearing a sun hat and a bright t-shirt.

Examples

Vuelves muy tostado de tus vacaciones en la playa.

You've come back very tanned from your beach vacation.

Tiene un color de piel tostado muy bonito.

She has a very beautiful tanned skin tone.

No quiero estar muy tostada, prefiero usar protector solar.

I don't want to be very tanned; I prefer to use sunscreen.

Estar vs. Ser

Use 'estar' with 'tostado' to say someone got a tan recently. Use 'ser' if you are describing a naturally dark skin tone (though 'moreno' is more common for nature).

Moreno vs. Tostado

Learners often confuse 'moreno' and 'tostado'. Remember that 'moreno' describes a natural, darker complexion (often including hair/eyes), while 'tostado' specifically refers to the tan acquired from sun exposure.

Related Translations

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