Is there a proper and improper use of the term "moreno" and other descriptions of persona?
Is the term "moreno" ever considered an insult or at the least impolite? I know for English speakers the term "blondie" or "black" can be social blunders....is this the same for "moreno"? So here goes....curiousness killed the cat....give me some tips on improper usage of colour references in spanish. I prefer my wonderful spanish-speaking neighbors around me are not on the recieving end of a cultural blunder on my part. Please keep your answers non-offensive!
3 Answers
I have heard the term, "moreno," used to describe black people. It is all in the modifiers. If the adjectives accompanying your use of "moreno," are negative, then it is likely to be offensive. "malditos morenos! would be an offensive descriptive term. Conversely, "la gente morena tiene mucha anima y es una gente muy bondadosa." This would be perfectly acceptable.
Mi pastor es moreno, tiene 38 años de edad, y es muy gentil y inteligente.
I hope this helped.
In Mexico moreno refers to a dark-skinned man - just as a light skinned man is referred to a a guero
these are terms that are commonly used with someone one does not know personally
for example, a person encounted in a market - someone whose name one doesnt know
...a person-impersonal way of speaking to someone, or referring to someone in his presence
Of course one would not use moreno o guero to address a person of higher status
Only if the person would be of an equal status with the speaker or below
This sounds very familiar, so here we go again:
Moreno means someone - not of the negro race - who is dark-skinned. It can also be used as an adjective when discribing hair color (dark hair).
And no, it is not ofensive.
