aurora boreal
/auˌɾoɾa boɾeˈal/feminine
The English phrase "northern lights" is translated into Spanish as aurora boreal.
The term is used to describe the aurora of the northern hemisphere. In Spain, the term aurora boreal is widely used to refer to this phenomenon.
Meaning: the aurora of the northern hemisphere (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of aurora (dawn/aurora) and boreal (pertaining to the north).
How does it change in a sentence?
While the singular form aurora boreal is used, it is very common to use the plural form las auroras boreales when referring to the phenomenon in general.
How do you pronounce it?
/auˌɾoɾa boɾeˈal/
Did you know?
- The word boreal connects the northern lights to the Greek personification of the north wind, Boreas. This is why the term sounds quite poetic compared to a simple geographic description.
- The word aurora is used in Spanish as a common name for women, similar to 'Aurora' in English, which links the person's name directly to the light of the dawn.
- The word boreal is used in Spanish to describe not only the lights but also the bosque boreal, which refers to the taiga or northern coniferous forests.
Examples in context
- La aurora boreal aparece en Groenlandia a lo largo de todo el año.Northern lights appear all year round in Greenland.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use aurora boreal in a statement about Greenland.Tatoeba #2960324 by Tono, translation #2960325 by CK
- Las luces del norte son verdaderamente asombrosas.The Northern Lights are truly breathtaking.
- La aurora boreal se ve muy bien en Islandia.The northern lights look very good in Iceland.
- Quiero ver la aurora boreal en Noruega.I want to see the northern lights in Norway.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are looking at a photography magazine.
- AlejandroMira esta foto de la aurora boreal.Look at this photo of the northern lights.
- Lucía¡Es increíble! Es muy hermosa.It is incredible! It is very beautiful.
- AlejandroMe gustaría viajar para verla en persona.I would like to travel to see it in person.
- LucíaPodríamos ir juntos el próximo invierno.We could go together next winter.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “northern lights” translations and entries aurora boreal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aurora, boreal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
