enciende la luz
/enθjende la luθ/from spelling rules
To say "switch on the light" in Spanish, you say enciende la luz.
This phrase is used to instruct someone to start the flow of electricity to a lamp or light fixture. Its infinitive form is encender la luz.
Which one should you use?
You can also use Prende la luz informally. If you want to ask a question or make a request more softly, you can use podría encender la luz to mean "could you switch on the light".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form enciende la luz uses the informal imperative (the tú command) of the verb encender. To switch to a formal tone when addressing someone as usted, use encienda la luz instead. To express the action generally, use the infinitive encender la luz.
How do you pronounce it?
/enθjende la luθ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
To express the opposite action, use apagar la luz to mean "to switch off the light".
Did you know?
- The verb encender originally meant 'to set on fire'. Because early indoor lighting relied on flames, the word for lighting a candle survived as the term for flipping an electrical switch.
- The verb encender can be used to describe a person's emotional state, such as becoming suddenly angry or passionate.
- In some contexts, the word luz is used to mean 'permission' or 'green light'. For example, dar luz verde means to give the go-ahead for a project to start.
Examples in context
- Enciende la luz. No veo nada.Switch on the light. I can't see anything.This sentence shows how to use enciende la luz when you cannot see.Tatoeba #804949 by Munia, translation #279232 by CK
- Disculpe, ¿podría encender la luz, por favor?Excuse me, could you switch on the light, please?
- ¿Puedes prender la luz?Can you switch on the light?
- Enciende la luz del pasillo, por favor.Switch on the hallway light, please.
- Si enciende la luz, podré leer mejor.If you switch on the light, I will be able to read better.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are in a dark living room.
- AlejandroNo veo nada en esta habitación.I can't see anything in this room.
- SofíaEnciende la luz, Alejandro.Switch on the light, Alejandro.
- Alejandro¿Dónde está el interruptor?Where is the switch?
- SofíaEstá junto a la puerta.It is next to the door.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
