Inklingo

How to Say "dew" in Spanish

English → Spanish

rocío

nounB1general
Use 'rocío' when referring to the small droplets of water that form on surfaces like grass, leaves, or spiderwebs, especially in the morning.

Examples

Me desperté temprano para ver el rocío en las telarañas.

I woke up early to see the dew on the spiderwebs.

sereno

/seh-REH-noh//seˈɾeno/

nounB1general
Use 'sereno' when talking about the damp, cool night air, often with the implication that it can be unhealthy or cause a cold if exposed to it without protection.
A soft blue mist settling over a garden under a starry night sky.

Examples

Ten cuidado con el sereno de la noche, abrígate bien.

Be careful with the night air (dew), bundle up well.

No salgas sin abrigo, que el sereno te va a enfermar.

Don't go out without a coat; the night air will make you sick.

Las plantas están mojadas por el sereno.

The plants are wet from the night dew.

Dejaron la ropa afuera y le cayó el sereno.

They left the clothes outside and they got damp from the night air.

Always Masculine

When talking about the night air, this word is always 'el sereno', even if you are a woman talking about yourself getting cold.

Air vs. Person

Mistake: “Thinking 'el sereno' only refers to a person.”

Correction: In most homes, 'el sereno' refers to the cold mist outside at night, not a person.

Rocío vs. Sereno: Dew vs. Damp Air

Learners often confuse 'rocío' and 'sereno' because both relate to overnight moisture. Remember that 'rocío' is the dew you see on plants, while 'sereno' refers to the general dampness and coolness of the night air, often associated with getting sick.

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