niebla
/NYEH-blah/
fog
Niebla often refers to the weather condition known as fog or mist.
📝 In Action
La niebla era tan espesa que tuvimos que conducir despacio.
A2The fog was so thick that we had to drive slowly.
Cuando hay niebla, los vuelos se retrasan a menudo.
A1When there is mist, flights are often delayed.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Alert
Remember that 'niebla' is always a feminine word, so you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'la niebla', 'una niebla fría').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'estar' instead of 'haber'
Mistake: "La niebla está."
Correction: Hay niebla. (Use the impersonal form of 'haber'—'hay'—to talk about weather phenomena that simply exist, like 'There is fog'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing the Fog
To talk about how the fog acts, you can use verbs like 'caer' (to fall/settle) or 'levantarse' (to lift/rise).
Niebla can also describe a mental haze or feeling of confusion, where thoughts are not clear.
niebla(noun)
mental haze
?confusion or lack of clarity
obscurity
?lack of clarity or understanding
,confusion
?state of being unclear
📝 In Action
Después de la cirugía, sentía una niebla mental que le impedía concentrarse.
B1After the surgery, he felt a mental haze that prevented him from concentrating.
La niebla del pasado le impedía tomar decisiones claras sobre su futuro.
B2The obscurity of the past prevented her from making clear decisions about her future.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
In this sense, 'niebla' is a metaphor. Think of confusion or lack of memory as a literal fog blocking your vision.
⭐ Usage Tips
Pairing with Adjectives
Always specify the type of 'niebla' when using this figurative meaning, such as 'niebla mental' (mental fog) or 'niebla emocional' (emotional haze), to make your meaning clear.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: niebla
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'niebla' in its figurative sense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'niebla' and 'neblina'?
'Niebla' usually refers to a dense, thick fog that severely reduces visibility. 'Neblina' is used for a lighter mist or haze, often less disruptive and easier to see through.
Is 'niebla' pronounced with a 'b' or a 'v' sound?
While it is spelled with a 'b', the sound in the middle of the word ('iebla') is often a soft sound, similar to the English 'v' but made by barely touching your lips together (a sound called a 'bilabial fricative').