amanecer
/amaneˈθeɾ/masculine
In Spanish, dawn is amanecer. Wiktionary also lists alba and madrugada.
Meaning: morning twilight period (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| amanecer | /amaneˈθeɾ/ /amaneˈseɾ/ |
masculine |
| alba | /ˈalba/ | feminine |
| madrugada | /madɾuˈɡada/ | feminine |
| dilúculo | /dilukulo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| maitinada | /maitiˈnada/ | feminine |
| amanecida | /amaneˈθida/ /amaneˈsida/ |
feminine |
| alborada | /alboˈɾada/ | feminine |
These terms all refer to the morning twilight period.
Which one should you use?
While amanecer refers to the moment of dawn, madrugada refers to the period of time in the very early morning, typically between midnight and sunrise. Alba is a more poetic or literary term for dawn compared to the common amanecer. Alborada is often used in a literary context to describe the first light of day or a song/celebration performed at dawn. Note that alba and alborada are feminine, while amanecer and dilúculo are masculine.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun amanecer (dawn) is identical in form to the verb amanecer (to dawn/to become light).
How do you pronounce it?
/amaneˈθeɾ/
Did you know?
- The word alba shares a common ancestor with the English word 'albino'. Both trace back to the Latin 'albus', meaning 'white', referring to the white light of the sky.
- The word amanecida can refer to a party or a social gathering that lasts until the break of dawn.
- The word madrugada is built from the verb madrugar, which means to wake up very early. This makes the term for the early morning hours literally 'the result of waking up early'.
Examples in context
- En primavera, el alba.In spring, the dawn.This sentence illustrates the use of alba in a seasonal context.Tatoeba #4977245 by albrusgher, translation #365045 by shanghainese
- El amanecer está cerca.It's nearly dawn.This sentence shows how to express that dawn is approaching using amanecer.Tatoeba #4977246 by albrusgher, translation #3636070 by CK
- Dormí hasta el amanecer.I slept till dawn.This sentence demonstrates the use of amanecer to indicate a duration of time ending at dawn.Tatoeba #4977247 by albrusgher, translation #3735138 by CK
- 37 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are planning a hike.
- LucíaDebemos salir al amanecer.We should leave at dawn.
- JavierEso es muy temprano, Lucía.That is very early, Lucía.
- LucíaAsí veremos el amanecer desde la cima.That way we will see the dawn from the summit.
- JavierEstá bien, me despertaré temprano.Alright, I will wake up early.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dawn” translations and entries amanecer, alba, madrugada, dilúculo, maitinada, amanecida, alborada, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alba, amanecer, madrugada, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
