luce
/ˈlu.t͡ʃe/
luce is the Italian word for light.
This phrase refers to natural light from the sun or light from an artificial source.
How does it change in a sentence?
luce is a feminine noun. Its plural form is luci.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈlu.tʃe/. The word has two syllables and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In architecture, luce refers to the distance between two supports of a beam or arch, known in English as the 'span'.
- In Italian, the concept of 'light' is so tied to electricity that luce is used as a synonym for power. A person might say la luce when referring to their electricity bill.
- The word luce shares the same Proto-Indo-European root as the English word 'light'. This ancient root, *lewk-, also gave rise to the word 'lucid'.
Examples in context
- Mi scusi, potrebbe accendere la luce?Excuse me, could you turn on the light?
- La luce del sole è pazzesca oggi!The sunlight is amazing today!
- La luce del sole è molto forte.The light of the sun is very strong.
- La luce del sole è molto forte oggi.The sunlight is very strong today.
- Accendi la luce in cucina, per favore.Turn on the light in the kitchen, please.
- C'è troppa luce in questa stanza.There is too much light in this room.
Example conversation
Matteo and Chiara are in a dark room.
- MatteoChiara, non vedo niente qui.Chiara, I can't see anything here.
- ChiaraHai ragione, serve più luce.You're right, we need more light.
- MatteoDov'è l'interruttore della luce?Where is the light switch?
- ChiaraÈ proprio qui accanto a te.It is right here next to you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry luce, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries luce, CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Luce” is definitely not pronounced “Loo-kay” in Italian. It is pronounced “Loo-che” with the “che” like in “chess”.
Hai ragione! A silly slip on my part. The page now says LOO-che. Grazie mille!