atenúa
/atenua/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'dims' translates to Spanish as atenúa.
In formal or professional environments, you might use the phrases Reduce la intensidad de las luces to mean 'reduce the intensity of the lights' or Baja la intensidad luminosa to mean 'lower the luminous intensity'. In relaxed settings, you can say Déjalas más tenues to mean 'make them dimmer'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you may hear the phrase atenuar las luces to mean 'attenuate the lights'.
How do you pronounce it?
/atenua/
Did you know?
- The root of atenuar comes from the Latin tenuis, meaning 'thin'. To dim a light in Spanish is conceptually the same as making the light thinner.
- In a medical context, a doctor might use atenuar to describe the process of reducing the severity of symptoms or a patient's pain.
- The word tenue is a cognate of the English word 'tenuous'. Both describe something slender or fragile, though English rarely uses 'tenuous' to describe light.
Examples in context
- Ella atenúa la luz para leer.She dims the light to read.
- El control remoto atenúa el brillo de la pantalla.The remote dims the screen brightness.
- Él atenúa las luces del salón.He dims the living room lights.
Example conversation
A couple is getting ready to watch a movie in their living room.
- MaríaDaniel, atenúa la luz, por favor.Daniel, dim the light, please.
- DanielVale, ¿así está bien?Okay, is this alright?
- MaríaSí, ahora la sala está perfecta.Yes, now the living room is perfect.
- Daniel¡Que empiece la película!Let the movie start!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
