el cabello

Definition & meaning

The word cabello refers to the hair that grows on the human head. It typically refers to the strands of keratin that cover the scalp, often implying hair that is considered groomed, styled, or kept as a physical feature.

Beyond its primary biological definition, it can occasionally be used in specific contexts to describe fine, thread-like fibers, though this is less common than its anatomical use.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

• It is a masculine singular noun (el cabello).
• The plural form is cabellos.

Word origin:

• The word comes from the Latin term capillus, which means "hair of the head." It shares the same etymological root as the word "capillary" in English.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

• Pelo ↗ (The most common and general term for hair, used for both head hair and body hair).
• Melena ↗ (Specifically refers to a long or thick head of hair).
• Cabellera ↗ (Often used in a literary or aesthetic sense to describe a full head of hair).

Antonyms:

• Calvicie ↗ (Baldness, the absence of hair).
• Alopecia ↗ (The medical term for hair loss).