Spanish Conversation · Level 41
75 words
Spanish word
oscuridad
Pronunciation
IPA/oskuɾiˈðað/
Meaning
- feminine noundarkness
Example
Tengo miedo de la oscuridad.
I am afraid of the dark.
More examples
La oscuridad impidió distinguir los colores.
Darkness made it impossible to distinguish the colors.
Core concept
A room with no visible light.
Common phrases
acostumbrarse a la oscuridad
get used to darkness
la oscuridad total
total darkness
entre la oscuridad y la luz
between darkness and light
Similar words
noche: Nighttime after sunset, the span of hours when outdoor lighting is naturally low.
sombra: A shaded patch produced where something intercepts light, noticeably darker than nearby areas.
apagón: Event when electrical service stops and streets or rooms lose artificial illumination.
anochecer: The transition period from day to night when the sky gradually becomes darker.
Definition in Spanish
Falta de luz en un lugar; usado también en sentido metafórico para indicar falta de claridad o conocimiento sobre un asunto.
Word origin
From Latin obscuritas (obscurus 'dark'), originally referring to physical lack of light and later extended to mean lack of clarity.
Usage tips
- In phrases like 'quedarse a oscuras' it can mean either a blackout or being left without information, and context determines whether it is literal or figurative.