cielo despejado
Lemma Details
Translation: clear sky; cloudless sky; blue sky
Part of Speech: noun phrase
Etymology: From 'cielo' (sky) + 'despejado' (clear, unclouded). 'Cielo' comes from Latin 'caelum' (sky, heaven), related to English 'celestial'. 'Despejado' derives from the verb 'despejar' (to clear), from Latin 'de-' (away) + 'speculum' (mirror), with the idea of removing obstacles to create clarity, like a clear reflection in a mirror.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 50%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Hoy hay un cielo despejado perfecto para ir a la playa.
Today there's a clear sky, perfect for going to the beach.
El pronóstico indica cielo despejado para todo el fin de semana.
The forecast indicates clear skies for the entire weekend.
Bajo el cielo despejado, los colores del paisaje parecían más vivos.
Under the clear sky, the colors of the landscape seemed more vivid.
Mnemonics
- 'Cielo' sounds a bit like 'ceiling' - the sky is Earth's ceiling.
- 'Despejado' contains 'des' (un-) and sounds a bit like 'displayed' - a clear sky displays all its blueness without clouds.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, especially those with warm climates like Spain and Latin American nations, 'cielo despejado' is often associated with good weather for outdoor activities and celebrations. It's frequently mentioned in weather forecasts and casual conversation about the day's conditions.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Cielo despejado' refers specifically to a sky without clouds, while 'cielo abierto' (open sky) can refer to any outdoor space under the sky, regardless of weather conditions.
This word:
Hoy tenemos un cielo despejado sin una sola nube.
Today we have a clear sky without a single cloud.
Confused word:
La mina a cielo abierto ha cambiado el paisaje.
The open-pit mine has changed the landscape.
Notes: 'Cielo abierto' is often used in phrases like 'mina a cielo abierto' (open-pit mine) or 'al cielo abierto' (in the open air).
Mnemonic: 'Despejado' focuses on the absence of clouds (clarity), while 'abierto' focuses on openness or exposure.
Explanation: While 'cielo despejado' refers to the natural sky without clouds, 'cielo raso' can mean both a clear sky and a ceiling in architecture.
This word:
El cielo despejado nos permitió ver las estrellas.
The clear sky allowed us to see the stars.
Confused word:
Pintaron el cielo raso de la habitación de blanco.
They painted the ceiling of the room white.
Notes: In some regions, 'cielo raso' is used primarily to refer to a ceiling, while in others it can also mean a clear sky.
Mnemonic: Think of 'raso' as 'erased' - in architecture, it's a flat surface with details erased; in nature, it's a sky with clouds erased.