If you have heard someone say “Mi hermana dio a luz” and pictured a light switch, you are not alone. “Dar a luz” is a classic Spanish idiom that sounds literal but is used figuratively in most conversations.
To see this idiom in context, read our short A1 stories or try an intermediate scene in the B1 stories.
Below you will find a clear breakdown, natural examples, quick practice, and the most common pitfalls to avoid.
The literal meaning
“Dar a luz” literally translates to “to give to light.”
- luzlight = light
- dar = to give
- a = to
Etymology in a nutshell
The verb alumbrarto illuminate and the noun luzlight connect childbirth with the idea of bringing a new life into the light. That is why the idiom uses light imagery.
The figurative and most common meaning
In modern Spanish, “dar a luz” almost always means “to give birth.”
Examples you will hear everywhere:
- Mi hermana dio a luz anoche. = My sister gave birth last night.
- Sofía va a dar a luz en mayo. = Sofía is going to give birth in May.
- La paciente está a punto de dar a luz. = The patient is about to give birth.
- Esperan gemelos y darán a luz en otoño. = They are expecting twins and will give birth in the fall.
Studying family words like hermana? Review the core set in Family members.
Quick tense snapshots:
- Preterite past: dio a luz
- Present: da a luz
- Future: dará a luz
- Periphrastic future: va a dar a luz
- Progressive: está dando a luz
- Set phrase: a punto de dar a luz
For “va a dar a luz,” refresh the pattern in The informal future: ir + a + infinitive. For “dio,” see irregular forms in The preterite tense: common irregulars.
Do not confuse it with “turn on the light”
Important distinction
- dar a luz = to give birth
- encender la luzto turn on the light or prender la luzto turn on the light = to turn on the light
If you want everyday household words like lámpara or interruptor, browse Home appliances.
The “publish” sense exists but is rare today
You may find “dar a luz” meaning “to publish” in older texts or formal style.
- El autor dio a luz su primera novela en 1950.
Today you would normally say: El autor publicó su primera novela en 1950.
Learn bookish vocabulary in Advanced literary terminology.
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Do not use it for “to bring to light” meaning “reveal”
To say “bring to light” in the sense of reveal or expose, use:
- sacar a la luzto bring to light
- salir a la luzto come to light
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Common mistakes to avoid
- dar a la luz ❌ → dar a luz ✅
- hacer a luz ❌ → dar a luz ✅
- usar “dar a luz” para revelar ❌ → usar “sacar a la luz” ✅
- confundir con encender la luz ❌ → encender o prender la luz ✅
If articles like el/la still trip you up, review Noun gender and articles: el/la, un/una.
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Mini vocabulary box
- dar a luzto give birth = idiomatic and most common
- parirto give birth (clinical) = clinical or rural tone in many regions
- partochildbirth = childbirth as a noun
- embarazopregnancy = pregnancy
- bebébaby = baby
Register and tone
- dar a luz sounds neutral and natural in everyday speech
- parir can sound blunt or technical depending on the region
- alumbrar still means to illuminate and has historical ties to childbirth
Want to polish tone choices in different contexts? See Formal vs informal registers.
Quick practice
In everyday modern Spanish, what does 'dar a luz' usually mean?
Arrange the words to form a correct sentence:
Next, try the phrase in context by reading a mini-scene in our Spanish stories.
Handy pattern you can copy
-
[Nombre] + dio a luz + [momento]
Mi hermana dio a luz hoy. -
[Sujeto] + va a dar a luz + [momento]
Ella va a dar a luz en mayo. -
[Sujeto] + está a punto de dar a luz
Laura está a punto de dar a luz.
Final takeaway
- Literal sense: to give to light
- Real-world use: to give birth
- Avoid using it for reveal or for turning on lights
- For publish use publicar in modern Spanish
Ready to try it in your own sentence? Write one using “dar a luz” with a time expression like hoy, mañana, en mayo, or anoche.