luz
/ˈluθ/feminine
The English word "light" is translated into Spanish as luz.
luz is used to describe light or illumination. In many Spanish-speaking contexts, it is also commonly used to refer to electricity or the power supply in a house. An idiomatic expression, ver la luz al final del túnel, means "to see the light at the end of the tunnel," which describes seeing hope or a solution to a problem.
Meaning: visible light, brightness (noun)
Which one should you use?
While luz refers to illumination, the word luces is the plural form meaning "lights." If you want to describe something that is "light" in terms of weight (the opposite of heavy), do not use luz. Instead, use the adjectives ligero or liviano.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
luz is a feminine noun. Therefore, it must be preceded by the feminine article la (e.g., la luz) rather than the masculine article el.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈluθ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use luz to mean "light" when referring to weight. Use ligero or liviano instead.
Did you know?
- The word luz is a distant relative of the English word 'lucid'. Both derive from the same Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'brightness' or 'shining'.
- In many Spanish-speaking homes, if someone shouts ¡Se fue la luz!, they are not talking about the sun setting, but rather that the power has gone out.
- The word luz shares a common ancestor with the English word 'light', as both descend from the Proto-Indo-European root *lewk-, which meant 'to shine' or 'bright'.
Examples in context
- Él apagó la luz.He turned off the light.This sentence is useful for describing the action of turning off the luz.Tatoeba #1879668 by Shishir, translation #1879664 by Spamster
- Aquí no hay luz.There's no light here.This sentence is useful for stating the absence of luz.Tatoeba #13437880 by Seael, translation #12243337 by Miktsoanit
- No apagué la luz.I didn't turn off the light.Tatoeba #568770 by Shishir, translation #261908 by CK
- La luz del solThe sunlight
- La luz de la lunaThe moonlight
- La iluminación de la habitaciónThe room's lighting
- La luminosidad de la bombillaThe brightness of the lightbulb
- La claridad de la mañanaThe morning light
- Las lucecitas del árbol de NavidadThe twinkling lights of the Christmas tree
- La luz del amanecer iluminaba la habitación, creando una sensación de paz y calma.The light of dawn illuminated the room, creating a sense of peace and calm.
- 282 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are looking at the sky during a sunset.
- SofíaLa luz del sol es muy bonita.The light of the sun is very beautiful.
- MateoSí, la luz está cambiando de color.Yes, the light is changing color.
- SofíaMe gusta ver esta luz de la tarde.I like seeing this afternoon light.
- MateoEs un momento muy especial.It is a very special moment.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “light” translations and entries luz, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries luz, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
