crepúsculo
/kɾeˈpuskulo/masculine
The Spanish word for twilight is crepúsculo.
crepúsculo refers to the light before the rising and after the setting of the Sun.
Meaning: light before rising and after the setting of the Sun (noun)
Which one should you use?
While crepúsculo can refer to both morning and evening twilight, el amanecer specifically refers to the dawn. In a more poetic sense, el alba is used to describe the light of the morning twilight.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective form of crepúsculo is crepuscular.
How do you pronounce it?
/kɾeˈpuskulo/
Did you know?
- The movie 'Twilight' was translated as Crepúsculo in Spain and Latin America, making this relatively rare and poetic word a common household term for a generation of young people.
- While crepúsculo covers both ends of the day, Spanish speakers often use the phrase la hora azul to describe the specific deep blue hue of the twilight sky.
- In certain Spanish dialects, the transition from twilight to night is colloquially called el ocaso, a term that also carries the heavy metaphor of the 'decline' or 'end' of an era.
Examples in context
- El árbol permanece inmóvil, vestido en el crepúsculo, engalanado con una densa capa de rocío.The tree stands motionless, clothed in twilight, thickly bedecked with dewdrops.This sentence uses crepúsculo to describe a tree in the twilight.Tatoeba #1948265 by teskmon, translation #818025 by Cindrogriza
- Todos sabemos que vas al cine a ver "Crepúsculo" por su fantástico guión y no por sus actores…We all know you go to the cinema to watch "Twilight" because of its "brilliant script" and not because of its actors.This sentence uses Crepúsculo as a proper noun title.Tatoeba #855892 by Kokoo, translation #1335882 by Shishir
- El anochecer en las montañas es impresionante.The twilight in the mountains is breathtaking.
- Los colores del crepúsculo inundaron el horizonte.The colors of twilight flooded the horizon.
- El ocaso se prolongó durante un largo rato.The twilight lingered for a long while.
- Me encanta pasear durante el atardecer.I love walking during the twilight.
- En ese preciso momento, cae la tarde y todo se vuelve mágico.At that precise moment, twilight falls, and everything becomes magical.
- El cielo se tiñe de rosa durante el crepúsculo.The sky turns pink during the twilight.
Example conversation
Daniel and María are walking home from a park.
- DanielMira qué bonito es el crepúsculo hoy.Look how beautiful the twilight is today.
- MaríaSí, Daniel, el color es espectacular.Yes, Daniel, the color is spectacular.
- DanielDeberíamos caminar más tiempo para verlo.We should walk longer to see it.
- MaríaMe encantaría, pero ya es muy tarde.I would love to, but it is already very late.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “twilight” translations and entries crepúsculo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
