sin electricidad
/sin eleɡtɾiθidad/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "no power" can be expressed as sin electricidad.
This phrase is used to describe a state where there is no electrical energy available to provide light or run appliances.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the preposition sin (without) and the noun electricidad (electricity).
Which one should you use?
While sin electricidad is a literal description of a state, se cortó la luz is used to describe the event of the power being cut or failing. To say "the power went out" very commonly, you can use se fue la luz.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin American countries, it is common to use no hay luz or no hay corriente to describe a power outage.
How do you pronounce it?
/sin eleɡtɾiθidad/
When do people say it?
In many Spanish-speaking countries, people use luz (light) as a metonym for electrical power in casual conversation.
Did you know?
- When people say se fue la luz, they are using a verb meaning 'to leave' or 'to go away', treating the electricity as if it had physically departed.
- The word sin shares a common ancestor with the English word 'sans', making them distant linguistic cousins.
- The phrase se cortó la luz uses the verb for 'cutting', reflecting the historical image of a physical line being severed to stop the flow of energy.
Examples in context
- Lamentamos informarle que en estos momentos no hay energía eléctrica en el edificio.We regret to inform you that there is currently no power in the building.
- Les comunicamos que debido a una falla técnica, no hay suministro eléctrico en el área.We inform you that, due to a technical failure, there is no power supply in the area.
- Hoy no hay luz en toda la manzana. ¿Quieres venir a mi casa?There is no power in the entire block today. Do you want to come to my house?
- ¡No hay corriente! Vamos a tener que hacer una cena a la luz de las velas.There is no electricity! We'll have to have a candlelit dinner.
- No hay luz en toda la calle.There is no power on the whole street.
- Estamos sin electricidad en todo el barrio.We are without electricity in the whole neighborhood.
- No podemos cocinar porque estamos sin electricidad.We cannot cook because we have no electricity.
- El hospital se quedó sin electricidad durante la tormenta.The hospital was left without electricity during the storm.
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are sitting in their dark living room.
- Elena¿Por qué está todo tan oscuro, Mateo?Why is everything so dark, Mateo?
- MateoEs que estamos sin electricidad.It is because we have no electricity.
- Elena¡Qué mala suerte!What bad luck!
- MateoVoy a buscar unas velas.I am going to look for some candles.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries electricidad, sin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
