luna azul
/luna aθul/from spelling rulesfeminine
The English phrase "blue moon" is translated into Spanish as luna azul.
luna azul is used to refer to a full moon.
Meaning: full moon (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
This phrase is a literal translation of "blue moon", consisting of luna (moon) and azul (blue).
How does it change in a sentence?
Because luna is a feminine noun, you must use the feminine definite article la when referring to the blue moon as la luna azul.
How do you pronounce it?
/luna aθul/
Did you know?
- If you tell a Spanish speaker you saw a luna azul, they might look for signs of volcanic ash or forest fires in the sky. To them, the phrase sounds like a description of a moon that has physically changed color due to particles in the air.
- The word azul traces its roots back to the precious gemstone 'lapis lazuli' via Persian and Arabic. It entered Spanish through the Andalusian Arabic word for this deep blue stone.
- In most Spanish-speaking cultures, the standard way to say 'full moon' is luna llena. Using luna azul is an imported concept that doesn't carry the same traditional weight in Spanish-speaking astronomy or folklore.
Examples in context
- La luna azul es un fenómeno astronómico raro.The blue moon is a rare astronomical phenomenon.
- La luna azul será visible esta noche.The blue moon will be visible tonight.
- Vi una luna azul desde mi ventana.I saw a blue moon from my window.
- El fenómeno de la luna azul es raro.The blue moon phenomenon is rare.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are looking at the night sky.
- Sofía¡Mira, Mateo! Hay una luna azul.Look, Mateo! There is a blue moon.
- MateoEs verdad, la luna azul es hermosa.It is true, the blue moon is beautiful.
- SofíaNo la había visto antes.I had not seen it before.
- MateoEs un momento muy especial.It is a very special moment.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “blue moon” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries azul, luna, CC BY-SA 4.0.
