anochecer

to get dark, to grow dark

verb ah-noh-cheh-SEHR Rare

Origin: From a- + noche (night) + -ecer (inceptive suffix).

Also means

dusk, nightfall (noun)

Usage Note

Anochecer is most commonly used as an impersonal verb — anochece (it's getting dark) — similar to amanecer (to dawn). It can also be used personally: anochecimos en el pueblo (night fell while we were in the village). As a masculine noun, el anochecer means 'dusk' or 'nightfall' — al anochecer (at dusk). The pair amanecer/anochecer (dawn/dusk) is a classic contrast.

Examples

"Al anochecer, encendieron las lámparas."

Natural Translation

At dusk, they lit the lamps.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Mexican Spanish Slang Every Traveler Should Know

Mexican Spanish slang decoded for travelers: what güey, mande, órale, and ahorita really mean, who you can safely say them to, and how rude each one is.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

El or La? Spanish Noun Gender Rules Made Simple

El or la? Spanish noun gender is ~99% readable off the word's ending. Learn the o/a defaults, LONERS, feminine endings, and the handful of rebels to memorize.

June 3, 2026 7 min read

SpanishNow

How to Introduce Yourself in Spanish: 12 Real Phrases

Introduce yourself in Spanish with 12 ready-to-speak phrases — name, origin, age, and job — in both tú and usted, with the verb traps that trip up beginners.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Reflexive Verbs: Me, Te, Se Made Clear

Spanish reflexive verbs use me, te, se for actions you do to yourself. Master the daily-routine pattern, pronoun placement, and shifts like dormir vs dormirse.

June 9, 2026 6 min read