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Ellos son morenos, pero ella es rubia.

Ellos son morenos, pero ella es rubia.
They are dark-haired, but she is blond.
From Lesson 21:Describing people (moreno, rubio, tímido)·Spanish (Spain)

Questions & Answers about Ellos son morenos, pero ella es rubia.

Why do we use son and es here instead of están and está?
We use forms of the verb ser (son and es) because hair color and general physical appearance are considered permanent or essential characteristics in Spanish. You use forms of estar for temporary states, feelings, or locations.
Why are the pronouns ellos and ella used here? Can we just drop them?
You could drop them, but Spanish speakers usually keep the pronouns when making a direct contrast. Using ellos and ella emphasizes the difference between the two subjects: they are one way, but she is another.
Why does morenos end in -os while rubia ends in -a?
Adjectives in Spanish change their endings to match who or what they describe. Morenos ends in -os because it describes ellos (masculine, plural). Rubia ends in -a because it describes ella (feminine, singular).
Does morenos always mean dark-haired?
Not always! Depending on the context, moreno can also mean dark-skinned or tanned. However, when contrasted with rubia (blond) like in this sentence, it almost always refers to hair color.

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