nocturna
/nok-TOOR-nah/
night
The word 'nocturna' describes things that happen at night, like the glowing moon and stars in the sky.
nocturna(adjective)
night
?describing an activity or period
,nightly
?occurring every night
nocturnal
?related to animals or nature
π In Action
Me encanta la vida nocturna de esta ciudad.
A2I love the nightlife of this city.
La lechuza es una ave nocturna.
B1The owl is a nocturnal bird.
Hicimos una caminata nocturna por el bosque.
B1We went on a night hike through the forest.
π‘ Grammar Points
Matching the word it describes
Because this word ends in 'a', it must be used with feminine words like 'la vida' or 'la ciudad'. If you are describing a masculine word, use 'nocturno' instead.
β Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong ending
Mistake: "El turno nocturna."
Correction: Say 'El turno nocturno' because 'turno' is a masculine word.
β Usage Tips
Nightlife tip
When talking about 'nightlife' (bars, clubs, etc.), Spanish speakers almost always use the specific phrase 'la vida nocturna'.
A 'nocturna' can also refer to a night shift, where work or classes take place after the sun goes down.
nocturna(noun)
night shift
?referring to school or work hours
night session
?a specific time block at night
π In Action
Como trabajo de dΓa, tengo que estudiar en la nocturna.
B2Since I work during the day, I have to study in the night shift (night school).
La nocturna tiene menos alumnos que el turno de la maΓ±ana.
B2The night session has fewer students than the morning shift.
π‘ Grammar Points
Shortened names
In many Spanish-speaking countries, people drop the word 'escuela' (school) and just say 'la nocturna' to mean night school.
β Usage Tips
Talking about work
While 'la nocturna' is common for school, for jobs people usually say 'el turno de noche'.
βοΈ Quick Practice
π‘ Quick Quiz: nocturna
Question 1 of 2
Which of these phrases is correct if you want to say 'nightlife'?
π More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'nocturna' and 'de la noche'?
'De la noche' is very literal (of the night). 'Nocturna' is a bit more formal and is used for specific concepts like 'nightlife' or 'nocturnal animals'.
Can I use 'nocturna' to describe a man who stays up late?
No, you would use 'nocturno' for a man, or more commonly the word 'trasnochador'.