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oscurecer

os-koo-re-SAIR/oskuɾeˈθer/

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

to get dark

Also: to grow dark
VerbA2irregular (z-change) er
Latin America
A silhouette of a small hill and a single tree against a deep purple and orange twilight sky.
gerundoscureciendo
past Participleoscurecido
infinitiveoscurecer

📝 In Action

En invierno empieza a oscurecer a las cinco.

A2

In winter it starts to get dark at five o'clock.

Está oscureciendo, deberíamos volver a casa.

A2

It is getting dark; we should go back home.

Me gusta caminar por la playa cuando empieza a oscurecer.

B1

I like walking on the beach when it starts to grow dark.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • al oscurecer – at dusk / at nightfall
  • antes de oscurecer – before it gets dark

Idioms & Expressions

  • oscurecer los ánimos – to dampen people's spirits or make the mood gloomy

to darken

Also: to shade
VerbB1irregular (z-change) er
A hand holding a paintbrush adding dark grey paint to a bright yellow wall.
gerundoscureciendo
past Participleoscurecido
infinitiveoscurecer

📝 In Action

Quiero oscurecer un poco el color de las paredes.

B1

I want to darken the color of the walls a little bit.

Ella decidió oscurecer su cabello para el invierno.

B1

She decided to darken her hair for the winter.

Las nubes oscurecieron el campo de repente.

B2

The clouds suddenly darkened the field.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ensombrecer (to cast a shadow over)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • oscurecer el tono – to darken the tone
  • oscurecer la imagen – to darken the image

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesoscurecieran
yooscureciera
túoscurecieras
vosotrososcurecierais
nosotrososcureciéramos
él/ella/ustedoscureciera

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesoscurezcan
yooscurezca
túoscurezcas
vosotrososcurezcáis
nosotrososcurezcamos
él/ella/ustedoscurezca

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesoscurecieron
yooscurecí
túoscureciste
vosotrososcurecisteis
nosotrososcurecimos
él/ella/ustedoscureció

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesoscurecían
yooscurecía
túoscurecías
vosotrososcurecíais
nosotrososcurecíamos
él/ella/ustedoscurecía

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesoscurecen
yooscurezco
túoscureces
vosotrososcurecéis
nosotrososcurecemos
él/ella/ustedoscurece
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "oscurecer" in Spanish:

to darken→to shade→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: oscurecer

Question 1 of 3

How would you say 'I darken' in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
oscuro(dark) — Adjective
oscuridad(darkness) — Noun
oscurecimiento(darkening / blackout) — Noun
a oscuras(in the dark) — Adverbial Phrase
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'obscurescere,' which means 'to begin to grow dark.' It comes from the root 'obscurus' (dark or covered).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: obscureFrench: obscurcirItalian: oscurare

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'oscurecer' and 'anochecer'?

'Oscurecer' means to get dark (light levels decreasing), while 'anochecer' specifically means that night is arriving. Often they are used interchangeably.

Is 'oscurecer' irregular?

Yes, but only slightly. It has a 'zc' in the 'yo' form of the present and in all forms of the special 'wishes/commands' (subjunctive) mode.

Can I use 'oscurecer' for skin tanning?

Yes, you can say 'mi piel se oscureció' (my skin darkened) after being in the sun, though 'broncearse' is more common for tanning.