rayo
/ˈraʝo/masculine
The English word 'ray' is translated into Spanish as rayo.
rayo is a masculine noun used to describe a beam of light or radiation. In common usage, it can also refer to a lightning bolt.
Meaning: beam of light or radiation (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of rayo is rayos.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈraʝo/
Did you know?
- If you are talking about a 'stingray' or 'manta ray', you use the word raya instead of rayo. Although they look similar, raya is a feminine noun and refers to the fish.
- The English word 'radio' is a linguistic doublet of rayo. While one comes from the Latin 'radius' via the Old Spanish form, the other was a more modern borrowing that shares the same root.
- The word rayar (derived from raya) can mean to scratch a surface, but in some slang, it means to go crazy or become obsessed with something.
Examples in context
- Los rayos infrarrojos son radiaciones electromagnéticas.An infrared ray is electromagnetic radiation.This sentence is useful for learning about the term rayo in the context of infrared radiation.Tatoeba #1970997 by hayastan, translation #1971006 by Saponutti
- El Telescopio Espacial de Rayos Gamma Fermi de la NASA ha detectado una señal procedente del centro de la galaxia Andrómeda.NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has detected a signal coming from the center of the Andromeda galaxy.This sentence shows how rayo is used in the name of a scientific instrument like a Gamma-ray telescope.Tatoeba #7921200 by Seael, translation #5891325 by Hybrid
- ¡Hola, Rayito! ¿Vienes a la fiesta esta noche?Hey, little Ray! Are you coming to the party tonight?
- Don Ray, ¿cómo estás?Mr. Ray, how are you?
- un rayo de solA ray of sun
- Un rayo de sol entró por la ventana.A ray of sunlight came through the window.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are standing in a dark room with a single light source.
- JavierMira ese rayo de luz en el suelo.Look at that beam of light on the floor.
- Lucía¿Es de la lámpara o de la ventana?Is it from the lamp or the window?
- JavierParece un rayo que viene de afuera.It looks like a ray coming from outside.
- LucíaTienes razón, es luz solar.You are right, it is sunlight.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ray” translations and entries rayo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rayo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
