tan

10 synonyms for tan, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A yellowish-brown colour, or the darkened shade skin takes on after time in the sun.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

camel buff sandy bronze

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

khaki fawn bronzed topaz suntan tangent

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A yellowish-brown colour, or the darkened shade skin takes on after time in the sun.

“The chair's leather was a soft tan that matched the rug.”

khaki fawn camel buff bronzed sandy topaz suntan tangent

2. verb

To develop a darker skin tone from sun exposure, or to turn animal hide into leather using tannic acid.

“Be careful not to tan for too long without sunscreen on a hot day.”

bronze

How to use tan

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

get a tan a deep tan tan leather tan lines

Etymology

From Old French tan, "tanbark" (the oak bark used to cure leather), tracing back to a Gaulish word for oak. The "get a suntan" meaning came later, from the browning effect of tanning leather.

Full origin of tan →

Frequently asked questions

What does “tan” mean?

The word “tan” means a yellowish-brown colour, or the darkened shade skin takes on after time in the sun. In plain terms, a light brown colour — usually either sun-browned skin or the shade of leather and similar materials.

How do you pronounce “tan”?

“Tan” is pronounced tan (/tæn/ in IPA).

How do you use “tan” in a sentence?

Here is “tan” used in a sentence: “She came back from the beach with a deep tan.”

What part of speech is “tan”?

Depending on how it is used, “tan” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.

Where does the word “tan” come from?

The word “tan” comes from Old French. From Old French tan, "tanbark" (the oak bark used to cure leather), tracing back to a Gaulish word for oak. The "get a suntan" meaning came later, from the browning effect of tanning leather.

Is “tan” a common word?

“Tan” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “tan” have?

“Tan” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a yellowish-brown colour, or the darkened shade skin takes on after time in the sun.

What is the difference between tan and beige?

Both are pale neutral shades, but tan is a yellowish-brown that reads noticeably darker and warmer, while beige is a lighter, creamier off-white. A classic leather satchel is typically tan; unbleached fabric is closer to beige.

How do you spell the past tense of tan?

The past tense is tanned and the -ing form is tanning: the final n doubles because tan ends in a short vowel followed by a single consonant. "Taned" and "taning" are misspellings.

What is the difference between a tan and sunburn?

A tan is the gradual darkening of skin tone after time in the sun. Sunburn is damage from overexposure, leaving the skin red and sore rather than evenly darkened.

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bronze sandy camel buff tangent khaki fawn topaz suntan bronzed

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