farola
/faˈɾola/
The English phrase "street light" is farola in Spanish.
The term refers to a tall lamp post that provides light for people on a street or sidewalk at night.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, the term poste de luz is commonly used to refer to street lights.
How do you pronounce it?
/faˈɾola/
Did you know?
- In Spain, the word farola is derived from faro, which means 'lighthouse'. This connects the humble street lamp to the massive beacons used to guide ships at sea.
- In some Latin American countries, using farola instead of poste de luz can sound overly poetic or archaic, as if the speaker is describing a romanticized colonial street rather than a modern city.
- While farola refers to the lamp itself, the word farol is often used for a handheld lantern. This distinction helps Spanish speakers differentiate between fixed city lighting and a portable light source.
Examples in context
- La farola de la esquina no funciona.The street light on the corner is not working.
- Hay una farola cerca de la entrada.There is a street light near the entrance.
- La luz de la farola es muy brillante.The light from the street light is very bright.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are walking through a dark park at night.
- SofíaNo veo bien el camino.I cannot see the path well.
- AlejandroBusca una farola para iluminar el paso.Look for a street light to illuminate the way.
- Sofía¡Mira! Allí hay una farola.Look! There is a street light over there.
- AlejandroPerfecto, ahora podemos caminar seguros.Perfect, now we can walk safely.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry farola, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
