Usage Note
Tiniebla is almost exclusively used in the plural tinieblas, meaning deep or spiritual darkness — literal or figurative. Las tinieblas carries strong literary and religious overtones (e.g., the powers of darkness). The singular form is rare and archaic. Do not use it as a direct synonym for oscuridad (ordinary darkness) in everyday speech.
Examples
"Caminaban perdidos entre las tinieblas."
Natural Translation
They walked lost in the darkness.

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