sol

/sol/

NounmA1

sun?The star at the center of our solar system.

Also:sunshine?The light and heat from the sun.

📝 In Action

El sol brilla mucho hoy.

The sun is shining a lot today.

Vamos a la playa a tomar el sol.

Let's go to the beach to sunbathe.

Necesito gafas de sol porque la luz es muy fuerte.

I need sunglasses because the light is very strong.

Word Connections

Synonyms

astro rey (king star (poetic))

Antonyms

luna (moon)
sombra (shade)

Common Collocations

tomar el sol – to sunbathe
puesta de sol – sunset
salida del sol – sunrise
gafas de sol – sunglasses
al sol – in the sun

Idioms & Expressions

ser un sol – To be a sweetheart; to be a wonderful person.
de sol a sol – From dawn to dusk; all day long.
arrimarse al sol que más calienta – To side with the most powerful or influential person.

💡 Grammar Points

Always Use 'el'

Just like in English we say 'the sun', in Spanish you almost always need to say 'el sol'. It's rare to see 'sol' by itself. For example, 'El sol es una estrella' (The sun is a star).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Sun vs. Heat

Mistake: "To say 'It's very hot,' a learner might say: 'Hace mucho sol.'"

Correction: The best way is: 'Hace mucho calor.' While 'Hace sol' means 'It's sunny,' the word for the feeling of heat is 'calor'. Use 'calor' for temperature and 'sol' for the sun itself or its light.

⭐ Usage Tips

Using 'al sol'

The little phrase 'al sol' is a super common way to say 'in the sun' or 'in the sunshine'. For example, 'Me gusta leer al sol' (I like to read in the sun).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: sol

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'sol' to mean 'sunshine' rather than the object in the sky?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

solar(solar) - adjective

soleado(sunny) - adjective

girasol(sunflower) - noun

insolación(sunstroke) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean when someone calls me 'un sol'?

It's a wonderful compliment! Calling someone 'un sol' means they are a sweetheart, a ray of sunshine, or just a really kind and lovely person. For example, 'Gracias por tu ayuda, eres un sol'.

Why is the currency of Peru called 'sol'?

The name comes from Peru's history and connection to the Inca Empire, who worshipped the sun god, Inti. The name 'sol' honors this important cultural symbol.