atardecer
everyday, Mexico
In Mexico people talk about the sunset as the atardecer or the puesta de sol. Ocaso is poetic and appears mostly in writing.
Meaning: time when the sun goes down (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| atardecer | everyday, Mexico |
| ocaso | literary |
| puesta de sol | standard |
Atardecer covers the whole stretch of late afternoon, so you can say al atardecer for "at dusk". Puesta de sol points to the exact moment the sun drops.
Which one should you use?
The word crepúsculo describes the twilight glow and is more formal. Mexicans use anochecer for the moment when night falls.
How does it change in a sentence?
Atardecer is a masculine noun and also a verb meaning "to get late in the afternoon".
Did you know?
- The word ocaso also means "decline" in Spanish, so it can describe the end of an era.
Examples in context
- El atardecer en la playa fue hermoso.The sunset at the beach was beautiful.
- Vamos a ver la puesta de sol.Let us watch the sunset.
- Salimos a caminar al atardecer.We went for a walk at sunset.
Example conversation
Couple Lucía and Héctor watch the sunset from the beach in Mazatlán.
- LucíaHéctor, mira qué bonito atardecer.Héctor, look what a beautiful sunset.
- HéctorSí, el cielo se ve naranja y morado.Yes, the sky looks orange and purple.
- LucíaTomemos una foto antes de que se vaya.Let us take a photo before it goes.
