How to Say "lightning bolt" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “lightning bolt” is “rayo” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
English → SpanishA2
nounA2
Electrical discharge during a storm
Examples
Un rayo cayó sobre el árbol más alto del campo.
A lightning bolt struck the tallest tree in the field.
Después del rayo, siempre escuchamos el trueno.
After the flash of lightning, we always hear the thunder.
Gender Check
Remember 'rayo' is always masculine (el rayo), even though it relates to weather, which sometimes uses feminine nouns (la tormenta).
Lightning vs. Thunder
Mistake: “Using 'rayo' when you mean 'trueno' (thunder).”
Correction: Rayo is the light/flash; trueno is the sound. 'El trueno fue muy fuerte.' (The thunder was very loud.)
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