pardo

brown; grey-brown

adjective PAHR-doh Rare

Origin: From Latin pardus (leopard), referring to the tawny coat colour.

Usage Note

Pardo describes a dull brownish-grey colour, often used for animal coats, earth, or overcast skies (cielo pardo). It is distinct from marrón (warm brown) — pardo tends toward grey-brown or dun. In some Latin American varieties it has historically been used as an ethnic descriptor, a usage now considered offensive.

Examples

"El oso pardo vive en los bosques del norte."

Natural Translation

The brown bear lives in the forests of the north.

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