luz
“luz” means “light” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
light
Also: clarity, lamp
📝 In Action
Me gusta leer con la luz natural de la ventana.
A1I like reading with the natural light from the window.
Por favor, apaga la luz antes de salir.
A1Please, turn off the light before leaving.
Tus palabras me dieron mucha luz sobre el problema.
B2Your words gave me a lot of clarity regarding the problem.
electricity, power
Also: electricity bill
📝 In Action
Se fue la luz durante la tormenta.
A2The power went out during the storm.
Este mes la luz ha subido mucho.
B1The electricity bill has gone up a lot this month.
Tengo que pagar la luz mañana.
A2I have to pay the electricity bill tomorrow.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: luz
Question 1 of 3
What is the correct plural form of 'luz'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'lux,' which also meant light. This root is where we get English words like 'lucid' and 'translucent.'
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'luz' feminine if it doesn't end in 'a'?
Spanish has several words that don't follow the 'a/o' rule. Most words ending in '-z' are feminine, like 'la paz' (peace) or 'la vez' (time).
Can 'luz' mean a literal lightbulb?
Not usually. For the actual bulb, you would use 'bombilla' or 'foco.' 'Luz' refers to the light itself or the lamp as a whole.
Is 'luz' used the same way in Spain and Mexico?
Yes, 'luz' is universal. However, the pronunciation of the 'z' differs: in Spain, it sounds like a soft 'th' (lu-th), while in Mexico and the rest of the Americas, it sounds like an 's' (lu-s).