Which one should you use?
While por la noche means "during the night", the phrase de noche is often used to describe things that happen habitually or as a general state, such as saying someone works at night. Additionally, if you are referring specifically to the early hours of the morning just before dawn, you should use en la madrugada.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many parts of Latin America, the phrase en la noche is used interchangeably with por la noche to mean "at night" or "during the night". The specific term en la madrugada for the early morning hours is used in Spain and several Latin American countries, such as Mexico.
How does it change in a sentence?
Note that in many parts of Latin America, en la noche is a common regional alternative to por la noche.
How do you pronounce it?
/poɾ la ˈnotʃe/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid the error en el noche. Because "night" is a feminine noun in Spanish (noche), you must use the feminine article la instead of the masculine el.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the traditional meal eaten por la noche happens much later than in English-speaking cultures, frequently between 9 PM and 10 PM.
- Spanish uses the word madrugada to describe the specific window of time between midnight and dawn, a distinction that English typically describes as either 'late night' or 'early morning'.
- The Spanish word noche shares a common ancestor with the English word 'night' and the Greek word 'nyx', as both stem from the Proto-Indo-European root *nókʷts.
Examples in context
- Un ladrón entró por la noche en el apartamento y robó el abrigo de piel de mi mujer.In the night a burglar broke into the apartment and stole my wife's fur coat.This sentence shows how to use por la noche to describe a specific event occurring during the night.Tatoeba #1683366 by teskmon, translation #504945 by darinmex
- La fiesta se llevará a cabo durante la noche.The party will take place in the night.
- El concierto comenzará en la noche.The concert will start in the night.
- Vamos a dar un paseo por la noche.Let's take a walk in the night.
- Trabajo de noche en el hospital.I work in the night at the hospital.
- Los animales son más activos en la madrugada.Animals are more active in the night/early morning.
- Siempre salimos a caminar por la noche.We always go for a walk in the night.
- Hace mucho frío por la noche.It is very cold in the night.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are discussing their sleeping habits at home.
- Elena¿Sueles trabajar por la noche, Daniel?Do you usually work in the night, Daniel?
- DanielNo, prefiero descansar y dormir bien.No, I prefer to rest and sleep well.
- ElenaYo también, porque el silencio es agradable.Me too, because the silence is pleasant.
- DanielEs verdad, la calma de la noche es ideal.It is true, the calm of the night is ideal.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry por la noche, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries la, noche, por, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
