Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say "Skin" in Spanish: Piel, Cutis, and Cuero
Piel · noun (feminine) · pee-EHL
Skin in Spanish is piel (general human and animal skin), cutis (facial skin/complexion), or cuero (animal hide, leather). Piel is the default word for skin in nearly all contexts — from skincare to describing someone's skin color.
pee-EHL — two syllables, stress on EHL. Cutis: COO-tees. Cuero: KWEH-roh.
Debes proteger tu piel del sol con protector solar.
You should protect your skin from the sun with sunscreen.
Skin in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for skin, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| piel | skin | pee-EHL | Default, widely understood |
| cutis | skin | Universal (facial skin, complexion) | |
| cuero | skin | Universal (animal hide/leather) | |
| pellejo | skin | Informal (skin of fruit, colloquial for human skin) |
How Native Speakers Use Piel
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Skincare
Este producto es ideal para pieles sensibles.
This product is ideal for sensitive skin.
Piel is the standard term in beauty and skincare contexts. Pieles (plural) for skin types.
Facial complexion (cutis)
Tiene un cutis perfecto sin ninguna imperfección.
She has perfect skin without any blemishes.
Cutis specifically refers to facial skin quality and complexion.
Material (leather)
Compré unos zapatos de piel italianos preciosos.
I bought beautiful Italian leather shoes.
Piel also means leather when referring to material. De piel = made of leather.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Piel
Using cuero for human skin in all regions
Incorrect: Tengo el cuero seco. (in some countries)
Correct: Tengo la piel seca.
While cuero can mean skin in some Mexican expressions, in many countries it refers specifically to animal hide or leather. For human skin, piel is always safe and standard.
Confusing piel (skin) with pelo (hair)
Incorrect: Me corté la piel muy corta. (intending hair)
Correct: Me corté el pelo muy corto.
Piel is skin; pelo is hair. They sound somewhat similar to English speakers but are completely different words. A cut in piel means a wound; a cut in pelo means a haircut.
Lock in Skin Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Piel used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using piel in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Debes proteger tu piel del sol con protector solar. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Skin in Spanish
- How do you say skin in Spanish?
- Skin is piel (general), cutis (facial complexion), or cuero (hide/leather). For skincare, use piel: cuidado de la piel (skincare). For leather goods, also piel: bolso de piel (leather purse).
- What's the difference between piel and cutis?
- Piel is skin anywhere on the body and is the general term. Cutis refers specifically to facial skin and its quality — tener buen cutis means to have good (facial) skin. Dermatologists might use cutis in clinical contexts.
- How do you say skincare in Spanish?
- Skincare is cuidado de la piel. A skincare routine is rutina de cuidado de la piel or simply rutina de skincare (the English word is increasingly used in beauty marketing).