I'm trying to learn Spanish. To do this I've bought a few software
programs and also some books (a dictionary and one called 'Street
Spanish'). All of these have been very helpful, but of course there
are some gaps to be filled in, which I'm having some trouble with.

In watching TV and listening to radio, I often hear the word 'morena'.
My dictionary defines 'moreno' as a dark haired or dark skined person.
However I hear this word very frequently. For instance today watching
television, four women were introduced as quatro morenas. Two of them
did not have dark hair or skin (two were blonds with light skin). So I
was confused.

What does 'morena' typically mean?

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Clarification of Question by patrice29-ga on 30 Dec 2004 09:33 PST

But I don't know what 'moreno' means.

I'm watching TV in New York. The women weren't close enough to see
their eye color. I heard 'morena' again later in the day in a song on
mun2 (a channel) which is a young hip channel. I wonder if it just
means 'beautiful' woman?

Thanks for your help.

Hello again patrice29,

   In most Spanish speaking countries, 'morena' does mean a dark skinned woman. 

  Many colors of skin qualify as 'morena', not just very dark. In
Spanish the skin tones are very descriptive, and range from 'Piel
canela' (cinnamon skin),'bronceada' (bronze or tan), 'caramela'
(caramel colored),castana-~ over the n, (chestnut colored) to 'color
cafe', (very dark skin). Another term used in some countries in the
Caribbean is "triguena"...with a ~ over the n, meaning 'wheat
colored'. Some countries use 'negra' for very dark or black skinned
women. "Mi negra" is what a man would call his sweetheart or wife.

  A woman with 'piel canela' and blonde hair would still be a
'morena', even with blue or green eyes.

  These terms are used affectionately, and are not derisive in any
way. Often, the words such as  'gordo'(fat), and 'flaco' (skinny) 'mi
viejo' (my old man)  used for one's father, uncle, grandfather, are
used as terms of endearment as well.

  Morena does not refer to eye color. Brown eyes would be 'ojos cafe',
'ojos cafe claro' or 'ojos cafe oscuro', coffee colored,light
coffee(as in coffee and milk) or dark coffee colored. Some countries
us 'ojos pardos' for very dark, almost black eyes.

  Interstingly, there are many terms for white skin too, which, in the
US, almost always refers to 'Gringas' or white North American women.
Some of these terms are 'gavacha', 'guera' and 'bolilla'.

  As far as a TV show introducing 4 women as "Morenas"...I used to
watch a show called "Sabado Gigante" on Saturday night, on Univision.
(I have since tried to avoid that channel because of blatant
objectification of women). On the show, Don Fransisco would introduce
4 scantily clad women, as " Las Cuatro Morenas". They were not always
the same women, and not all were morena. I can only guess that at one
time they were a group of morenas and as they were replaced, they kept
the name.

  I'm not familiar with every dialect of every Spanish speaking
region, so there may be a different meaning, but in general, 'Morena'
is a dark skinned girl. A woman will affectionatly call her boyfriend
or husband, "mi moreno".


Consider this children's book, in English and Spanish, that describes skin colors.
All the Colors we Are, by Katie Kissinger
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0934140804/qid=1104443139/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-0621586-8259311?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

  I commend you on learning Spanish. About.com has very useful pages
on learning Spanish. This site is a forum, where members ask each
other questions. Both native English and Spanish speakers are members.
http://forums.about.com/ab-spanish/messages?lgnF=y&msg=3690.1

Estimadamente,
crabcakes

morena is moreno but for females.

You were watching South American TV ?

What colour eyes did the four morenas have ?

Thank you for the 5 star rating!