aullar a la luna
/auʝaɾ a la luna/from spelling rules
The phrase "howling at the moon" in Spanish is aullar a la luna.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb aullar (to howl), the preposition a (at/to) and la luna (the moon).
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the continuous action of "howling" as a present participle, you can use the gerund form aullando a la luna.
How do you pronounce it?
/auʝaɾ a la luna/
Did you know?
- While aullar is the common word for 'to howl', Spanish also has the word ulular, which is used specifically for the hooting of owls.
- While aullar refers specifically to the sound of a wolf or dog, the English 'howl' can also be used metaphorically for the wind, whereas in Spanish, you would more likely use silbar (to whistle) or gemir (to moan) for the wind.
- The Spanish verb aullar is a distant relative of the English word 'ululate', which describes a long, wavering, high-pitched sound.
Examples in context
- ¡Este lugar es tan hermoso por la noche! Me dan ganas de aullar a la luna.This place is so beautiful at night! I feel like howling at the moon.
- Si quieres, podemos hacerlo juntos. ¡Aullémosle a la luna como locos!If you want, we can do it together. Let's howl at the moon like crazy!
- El lobo está aullando a la luna.The wolf is howling at the moon.
- El lobo empezó a aullar a la luna.The wolf started howling at the moon.
- No puedes aullar a la luna para que el problema desaparezca.You can't howl at the moon to make the problem disappear.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are walking their dog at night.
- AlejandroMira, el perro está intentando aullar a la luna.Look, the dog is trying to howl at the moon.
- ElenaSí, lo hace siempre que hay luna llena.Yes, he always does it when there is a full moon.
- AlejandroHace mucho ruido cuando empieza a aullar a la luna.He makes a lot of noise when he starts howling at the moon.
- ElenaEs muy gracioso verlo así, Alejandro.It is very funny to see him like that, Alejandro.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, aullar, la, luna, CC BY-SA 4.0.
