oscura
/os-Koo-ra/
dark
When a space is "oscura," it is dark or lacking light.
📝 In Action
La habitación estaba muy oscura después de que se fue la luz.
A1The room was very dark after the light went out.
Prefiero la noche oscura para ver las estrellas.
A2I prefer the dark night to see the stars.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Ending
Remember, 'oscura' is the feminine form. You must use it when describing feminine nouns, like 'la casa oscura' (the dark house). For masculine nouns, use 'oscuro' (el cuarto oscuro).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Ser and Estar
Mistake: "La noche es oscura (implying darkness is a permanent quality of the night)."
Correction: Use 'ser' (La noche es oscura) because darkness is a descriptive quality of the setting. Use 'estar' only if the darkness is temporary or unusual (e.g., 'La sala está oscura porque alguien apagó la luz').
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Fear
While 'oscura' means dark, Spanish often uses it to evoke a sense of fear or mystery, much like English uses 'the dark side' or 'gloomy'.
Something "oscura" can mean obscure or difficult to understand, like a subject veiled in mist.
oscura(adjective)
obscure
?difficult to understand
,mysterious
?hidden or secret
vague
?unclear meaning
📝 In Action
Su pasado es una historia muy oscura que nadie conoce bien.
B1Her past is a very obscure story that no one knows well.
La filosofía a veces utiliza terminología demasiado oscura.
B2Philosophy sometimes uses terminology that is too obscure.
💡 Grammar Points
Describing Character
When describing a person's character, 'oscura' suggests a secretive or morally questionable nature, like saying someone has 'dark motives'.
"Oscura" can describe a color that is deep or intense, such as a deep red.
📝 In Action
Me gusta esa tonalidad de azul oscura para pintar la pared.
B2I like that dark shade of blue to paint the wall.
Llevaba una falda roja oscura, casi granate.
C1She was wearing a deep red skirt, almost maroon.
💡 Grammar Points
Colors and Agreement
When describing a color, 'oscura' must agree with the noun it modifies, not the color itself. Example: 'la pintura (f) oscura' (the dark paint).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: oscura
Question 1 of 2
Which English translation best fits 'La razón de su despido es muy oscura'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'oscura' and 'sombría'?
'Oscura' focuses on the absence of light (physically or figuratively). 'Sombría' (somber/shady) often carries a stronger emotional tone of sadness, melancholy, or gloom, even if there is some light present.
Since 'oscura' is an adjective, does it always go after the noun?
Usually, yes. Adjectives of description like 'oscura' typically follow the noun (e.g., 'la casa oscura'). Placing it before the noun ('la oscura casa') is possible, but makes the language sound more literary or poetic.