Spanish Conversation · Level 87
60 words
Spanish word
solsticio
Pronunciation
IPA/solsˈtiθjo/
Meaning
- masculine nounsolstice
Example
El solsticio ocurre dos veces al año.
The solstice happens twice a year.
More examples
El solsticio de verano es el día con más horas de luz.
The summer solstice is the day with the most hours of daylight.
Core concept
Sun at its most extreme arc, producing the year's longest day or longest night.
Similar words
equinoccio: Moment when the sun lies over the equator, so day and night are nearly equal.
solsticio de verano: Summer peak when the sun is highest in the sky, producing the year's longest day.
solsticio de invierno: Winter low when the sun is lowest in the sky, producing the year's longest night.
estación: Span of months with similar weather and typical daylight amounts.
Definition in Spanish
Momento del año en que la inclinación de la Tierra respecto al Sol alcanza un extremo, marcando el día más largo (solsticio de verano) o la noche más larga (solsticio de invierno).
Word origin
From Latin solstitium, from sol 'sun' + sistere 'to stand still', originally describing the apparent pause in the Sun's movement at the solstices.
Usage tips
- In everyday Spanish 'solsticio' often sounds formal, so speakers commonly say 'el día más largo' or 'la noche más larga' instead.