Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Sun in Spanish: Sol and Everyday Expressions
Sol · noun (masculine) · SOHL
Sun in Spanish is sol (SOHL), a masculine noun: el sol. It is one of the most common words in Spanish and appears in dozens of fixed expressions — tomar el sol (to sunbathe), gafas de sol (sunglasses), puesta de sol (sunset), salida del sol (sunrise), and golpe de sol (sunstroke). In poetry and formal writing, astro rey (king star) is a literary synonym.
Sol is a single syllable: SOHL. It rhymes with English 'role.' The s is a clean, voiceless s, and the final l is soft, without velarization.
El sol brilla con fuerza esta mañana.
The sun is shining brightly this morning.
Sun in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for sun, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| sol | sun | SOHL | Default, widely understood |
| luz del sol | sun | Sunlight | |
| astro rey | sun | Literary/poetic for the sun |
How Native Speakers Use Sol
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Everyday weather
Hoy hace mucho sol; no olvides el protector solar.
It's very sunny today; don't forget sunscreen.
Hace sol is the standard weather expression for 'it's sunny.' Mucho sol intensifies it.
Sunbathing
Nos encanta tomar el sol en la playa los domingos.
We love to sunbathe at the beach on Sundays.
Tomar el sol literally means 'to take the sun' and is the idiomatic way to say sunbathe.
Sunset
La puesta de sol desde este mirador es impresionante.
The sunset from this lookout point is stunning.
Puesta de sol (setting of the sun) is the standard term for sunset. Atardecer is a near-synonym that also means dusk.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Sol
Using feminine article
Incorrect: La sol está muy fuerte.
Correct: El sol está muy fuerte.
Sol is masculine in Spanish: el sol. Despite ending in -l (which has no gender rule), its gender must simply be memorized.
Literal translation of sunny
Incorrect: Hoy es soleado.
Correct: Hoy hace sol.
While soleado exists as an adjective, the natural weather expression is hace sol, not es soleado. You might say un día soleado (a sunny day), but for a standalone weather statement, hace sol is the norm.
Lock in Sun Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Sol used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using sol in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El sol brilla con fuerza esta mañana. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Sun in Spanish
- How do you say sun in Spanish?
- Sun in Spanish is sol (SOHL). It's masculine: el sol. Common phrases include hace sol (it's sunny), tomar el sol (to sunbathe), and gafas de sol (sunglasses).
- Is sol masculine or feminine?
- Sol is masculine. You say el sol, not la sol. Many nature words in Spanish have fixed genders that must be memorized: el sol (masc.), la luna (fem.), el mar (masc., though la mar is poetic).
- How do you say sunrise and sunset in Spanish?
- Sunrise is salida del sol (literally 'exit of the sun') or amanecer. Sunset is puesta de sol (literally 'setting of the sun') or atardecer. Both noun forms are masculine: el amanecer, el atardecer.