noche oscura
/not͡ʃe oskuɾa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "dark night" is translated into Spanish as noche oscura.
noche oscura is used to describe a night that has very little or no light.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of noche (night) and oscura (dark).
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, the adjective must agree in gender with the feminine noun noche, which is why oscura is used. To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must take the plural suffix -s, resulting in noches oscuras.
How do you pronounce it?
/notʃe oskuɾa/
Did you know?
- The term noche oscura is the title of a famous 16th-century spiritual text, La noche oscura del alma, written by Saint John of the Cross to describe a profound psychological and spiritual crisis.
- Spanish has a distinct difference between oscura (dark) and sombría (shadowy), where the latter describes a 'dark night' that feels oppressive or melancholic.
- The word noche is a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'night', both tracing back to the same ancient Proto-Indo-European root *nókʷts.
Examples in context
- Tomás fue detenido una noche oscura de marzo. Vinieron los policías a su casa a por él.Thomas was arrested on a dark night in March. The police came to his house for him.This example shows the phrase noche oscura used in a narrative context about an arrest.Tatoeba #1160067 by Shishir, translation #9438997 by Truthwatch3r
- Fue una noche oscura.It was a dark night.This example uses noche oscura to describe a specific night.Tatoeba #862786 by felipeselles, translation #28390 by CK
- Me temo que el accidente ocurrió durante una noche oscura.I'm afraid the accident happened during a dark night.
- El robo tuvo lugar en la ciudad durante una noche oscura y lluviosa.The theft took place in the city during a dark and rainy night.
- El personaje principal caminó solo por la noche tenebrosa.The main character walked alone through the dark and mysterious night.
- La leyenda cuenta la historia de una noche tenebrosa en el antiguo castillo.The legend tells the story of a dark and mysterious night in the ancient castle.
- ¿Recuerdas aquella noche oscura en la playa con nuestros amigos?Do you remember that dark night at the beach with our friends?
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are discussing a walk in the forest.
- ElenaNo quiero ir al bosque en una noche oscura.I don't want to go to the forest on a dark night.
- JavierNo te preocupes, yo llevaré la linterna.Don't worry, I will bring the flashlight.
- ElenaPero es una noche oscura y no veo nada.But it is a dark night and I see nothing.
- JavierEntonces camina junto a mí, Elena.Then walk beside me, Elena.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries noche, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
