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oscuras

ohs-KOO-rahs/osˈku.ɾas/

“oscuras” means “dark” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

dark, dim

Also: gloomy
Three simple, stylized flowers rendered in deep shades of purple and black, standing against a solid, dark indigo background, emphasizing the darkness of the objects.

📝 In Action

Las nubes son muy oscuras hoy; parece que va a llover.

A1

The clouds are very dark today; it looks like it’s going to rain.

Pintaron las paredes de colores oscuras para darle un toque dramático.

A2

They painted the walls in dark colors to give it a dramatic touch.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • sombrías (shady, somber)
  • tenebrosas (dark, gloomy (literary))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • noches oscuras – dark nights
  • habitaciones oscuras – dark rooms

in the dark, blindly

Also: secretly
A simple silhouette of a child walking across a floor in a room completely shrouded in deep shadows and darkness, representing the state of being without light.

📝 In Action

Se fue la luz y tuvimos que cenar a oscuras.

B1

The power went out and we had to eat dinner in the dark.

No puedes tomar una decisión tan importante a oscuras.

B2

You can't make such an important decision blindly (without knowing the facts).

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ciegamente (blindly)

Antonyms

  • a la luz (in the light)

Common Collocations

  • quedarse a oscuras – to be left in the dark
  • caminar a oscuras – to walk in the dark

Idioms & Expressions

  • estar a oscuras – to be unaware of what is happening

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "oscuras" in Spanish:

blindly→secretly→shady→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: oscuras

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'oscuras' to mean 'without light'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes directly from the Latin *obscūrus*, meaning 'dark' or 'covered.' The feminine plural form 'oscuras' is maintained in the adverbial phrase 'a oscuras' (in the dark), which has been fixed in Spanish for centuries.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: escurasItalian: oscuro

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the phrase 'a oscuras' always plural and feminine?

This is a historical quirk! The phrase 'a oscuras' started as a reference to 'dark places' or 'dark things' (las oscuras), but over time, it became a single, fixed phrase that acts like an adverb (like 'quickly' or 'slowly') and never changes, regardless of who is doing the action.