luces de Navidad
/luθes de nabidad/from spelling rules
The English phrase "Christmas lights" is translated into Spanish as luces de Navidad.
This phrase refers to the decorative electric lights used to adorn trees and buildings during the Christmas season.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase luces de Navidad is composed of luces (lights) and de Navidad (of Christmas).
Which one should you use?
You can also use the adjective form luces navideñas to mean the same thing.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain parts of Latin America, the term farolitos navideños is used to describe Christmas lights.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase luces de Navidad, the word Navidad is a proper noun and should be capitalized in Spanish, just as it is in English.
Did you know?
- In Colombia, farolitos are not just electric lights but traditional small paper lanterns with candles inside that people place on sidewalks in December.
- The word Navidad comes from the Latin nātīvitātem, which means 'birth'. It is a linguistic sibling to the English word 'nativity'.
- While luces de Navidad are common, many Spanish speakers refer to the overall act of decorating with lights as iluminación navideña in professional or architectural contexts.
Examples in context
- Para la próxima reunión de la empresa, asegurémonos de decorar con luces navideñas.For the next company gathering, let's make sure to decorate with Christmas lights.
- ¡Qué bonitas se ven las luces de Navidad en tu árbol!How beautiful the Christmas lights on your tree look!
- Vamos a colgar las luces de Navidad en el árbol.We are going to hang the Christmas lights on the tree.
- Me encantan las luces de Navidad.I love the Christmas lights.
- ¿Dónde pusiste las luces de Navidad?Where did you put the Christmas lights?
- Las luces de Navidad son muy brillantes.The Christmas lights are very bright.
Example conversation
María and Javier are decorating their living room.
- María¿Dónde están las luces de Navidad, Javier?Where are the Christmas lights, Javier?
- JavierEstán en la caja sobre la mesa.They are in the box on the table.
- MaríaGracias, voy a colgarlas ahora.Thanks, I am going to hang them now.
- JavierYo te ayudo con la escalera.I will help you with the ladder.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Navidad, de, CC BY-SA 4.0.
