Aurora
/aʊ̯ˈʁoːʁa/
The English phrase aurora is translated into German as Aurora.
Aurora refers to the atmospheric phenomenon. It can also refer to the Roman goddess of dawn.
Meaning: atmospheric phenomenon (noun)
Which one should you use?
While Aurora is a scientific term, the phenomenon is more frequently referred to in common German usage as Polarlichter (plural). Additionally, Morgenröte often refers to the red hue visible in the sky due to the rising sun.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun Aurora is feminine and takes the definite article die.
How do you pronounce it?
/aʊ̯ˈʁoːʁa/
Did you know?
- The word Morgenröte is used to describe the dawn's red glow and is famously the title of a seminal work by Friedrich Nietzsche.
- Because Polarlichter is almost always used in the plural, a German speaker rarely refers to a single 'polar light', unlike the singular 'aurora' in English.
- In German, the word Licht in Polarlichter is neutral, but when referring to the phenomenon as Aurora, the gender switches to feminine die.
Examples in context
- Habt ihr jemals die Nordlichter gesehen? Sie sind unglaublich!Have you ever seen the northern lights? They are incredible!
Example conversation
Felix and Laura are looking at the night sky.
- FelixSchau mal, dort ist eine Aurora!Look, there is an aurora!
- LauraOh, die Farben sind wirklich wunderschön.Oh, the colors are truly beautiful.
- FelixIch habe noch nie eine Aurora gesehen.I have never seen an aurora before.
- LauraIch auch nicht, Felix. Es ist toll!Me neither, Felix. It is great!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Aurora, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
