oscurecer
Lemma Details
Translation: to darken; to grow dark; to obscure; to dim; to cloud; to overshadow
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: From Latin 'obscurescere', derived from 'obscurus' meaning 'dark, dim, indistinct'. The English cognate 'obscure' shares this Latin root. The prefix 'ob-' (meaning 'over, completely') combined with '-scurus' (related to 'sky, cloud cover') creates the image of something being completely covered or darkened. The Spanish form evolved through sound changes typical of Romance language development, with the 'b' being dropped and vowel shifts.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 60%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
En invierno oscurece más temprano.
In winter it gets dark earlier.
Las nubes oscurecieron el cielo.
The clouds darkened the sky.
No dejes que los problemas oscurezcan tu felicidad.
Don't let problems overshadow your happiness.
El humo oscureció toda la habitación.
The smoke darkened the entire room.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'obscure' in English - when something is obscured, it becomes darker or harder to see.
- The 'osc-' beginning sounds like 'dusk' - the time when daylight begins to darken.
- Picture an 'Oscar' statue being covered with a dark cloth - 'Oscar-ecer' = to make Oscar dark.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, 'oscurecer' is often used to mark the transition from day to night, which is an important time marker in daily life, especially in rural areas. The verb can also be used metaphorically in literature and poetry to describe emotional states or situations becoming more complex or difficult.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'oscurecer' means 'to darken', 'ofrecer' means 'to offer'. They have similar conjugation patterns as both are -er verbs, but their meanings are completely different.
Notes: Both verbs are irregular in similar ways, with stem changes in certain conjugations.
Mnemonic: 'Oscurecer' starts with 'osc-' like 'obscure' (dark), while 'ofrecer' starts with 'of-' like 'offer'.
Explanation: 'Oscurecer' means 'to darken' while 'esclarecer' means 'to clarify' or 'to shed light on' - they are nearly opposite in meaning despite sounding somewhat similar.
This word:
Las cortinas gruesas oscurecen bien la habitación.
The thick curtains darken the room well.
Notes: These words are actually antonyms despite their similar structure and sound.
Mnemonic: 'Oscurecer' has 'oscur-' (dark) while 'esclarecer' has 'clar-' (clear).