luna
/loo-nah/
moon
The most common meaning of luna is 'moon,' as in the large, bright object visible in the night sky.
luna(Noun)
moon
?The big object you see in the night sky.
moonlight
?When talking about the light from the moon.
📝 In Action
La luna está muy brillante esta noche.
A1The moon is very bright tonight.
Anoche fuimos a la playa a la luz de la luna.
A2Last night we went to the beach in the moonlight.
El primer hombre en la luna fue Neil Armstrong.
B1The first man on the moon was Neil Armstrong.
💡 Grammar Points
Always a 'La' Word
In Spanish, all things are either 'el' words or 'la' words. 'Luna' is always a 'la' word. So, you always say 'la luna' (the moon) or 'una luna' (a moon).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'El' Instead of 'La'
Mistake: "Vi el luna anoche."
Correction: Vi la luna anoche. Remember that 'luna' is a 'la' word because it ends in '-a'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Capitalization
When talking about Earth's moon in a scientific way (like in an astronomy class), you write it with a capital 'L': 'La Tierra tiene una Luna.' But in everyday conversation, it's lowercase: 'Me encanta ver la luna.'
In certain contexts, particularly in Spain, luna refers to a large pane of glass, such as a car's windshield.
luna(Noun)
window pane / glass
?A large sheet of glass, like in a shop window.
windshield / rear window
?The glass windows of a car.
,mirror
?A large mirror.
📝 In Action
Tengo una grieta en la luna delantera del coche.
B1I have a crack in the car's front windshield.
Un ladrón rompió la luna del escaparate para robar.
B2A thief broke the shop window to steal.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Everything
This meaning might seem strange, but it makes sense when you think about the reflection in glass. You'll know someone means 'windshield' or 'glass' if they're talking about a car or a shop.
Luna also means 'moon' in the scientific sense of a natural satellite orbiting any planet.
📝 In Action
Júpiter tiene decenas de lunas, algunas más grandes que Mercurio.
B2Jupiter has dozens of moons, some larger than Mercury.
Los científicos están buscando vida en las lunas de Saturno.
C1Scientists are looking for life on the moons of Saturn.
⭐ Usage Tips
General vs. Specific
This is like how in English we can talk about 'a moon' of another planet. It's the general, scientific term for what our own Moon is a specific example of.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: luna
Question 1 of 1
Your friend from Spain says, '¡Cuidado! Se rompió la luna del coche.' What broke?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'luna' feminine ('la luna')?
There's no deep reason! In Spanish, every 'thing' (or noun) is assigned a gender, either masculine ('el') or feminine ('la'). Words ending in '-a', like 'luna', are almost always feminine. You just have to learn them as a pair: 'la luna'.
What's the difference between 'luna' and 'Luna'?
It's all about capitalization. With a lowercase 'l' ('luna'), you're talking about the moon in a general, everyday way ('¡Qué bonita está la luna!'). With a capital 'L' ('Luna'), you're using its official proper name, usually in science or astronomy ('La distancia de la Tierra a la Luna es...').