Pelaje vs. piel vs. pelo
The Spanish words 'pelaje', 'piel', and 'pelo' are often used to describe the coat of animals, each with its own nuance. Understanding the difference can help in accurately conveying the aspect of an animal's covering.
Pelaje
'Pelaje' refers to the complete coat of an animal, encompassing all the hair, fur, or wool that covers its skin. It's often used in reference to the characteristics such as thickness, color, and texture.
El pelaje del oso polar es grueso y blanco.
(The polar bear's fur is thick and white.)
Los caballos tienen un pelaje muy brillante.
(Horses have very shiny coats.)
Algunos animales cambian de pelaje según la estación.
(Some animals change their coat according to the season.)
Piel
While 'piel' can mean skin in a general context, when referring to animals, it often implies the skin along with its attached fur or hair. It's frequently used in the context of trade, fashion or leather goods made from animal hides.
La piel de la vaca se usa para hacer cuero.
(A cow's hide is used to make leather.)
Abandonó su abrigo de piel debido a las protestas por los derechos de los animales.
(She gave up her fur coat due to animal rights protests.)
La piel del tigre tiene un patrón distintivo que ayuda en el camuflaje.
(A tiger's skin has a distinctive pattern that aids in camouflage.)
Pelo
'Pelo' specifically refers to individual strands of hair on an animal’s body, similar to human hair. It can be used both for humans and animals when focusing on specific hairs or discussing them generally as separate entities rather than as a whole coat.
Este cepillo es ideal para quitar el pelo de gato de la ropa.
(This brush is ideal for removing cat hair from clothing.)
El perro dejó pelo por toda la casa.
(The dog left hair all over the house.)
El pelo del conejo es muy suave y delicado.
(Rabbit fur is very soft and delicate.)
Summary
To summarize, 'pelaje' describes the entire coat of an animal, 'piel' refers to the skin with its attached fur but is also associated with leather goods, and 'pelo' refers to individual hairs on an animal's body. Each term emphasizes a different aspect of an animal's outer covering and serves specific contexts in speaking and writing about animals and their characteristics or uses in relation to humans.