luz
/luʃ/
Definition
The natural energy from the sun or from a lamp that allows us to see. Also used figuratively to mean hope or clarity.
Example
A luz do sol entrou pela janela de manhã.
Show translation
The sunlight came in through the window in the morning.
Etymology
From Latin *lux, lucis* ("light"), from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- ("to shine, be bright"). The same root gives English "lucid," "lunar," and "illuminate," and Spanish/Italian *luz/luce*.
Cultural note
In Portuguese, *luz* carries a strong figurative weight beyond mere illumination. Phrases like *ver a luz ao fundo do túnel* ("see the light at the end of the tunnel") are everyday idioms for hope. In Brazil, *a luz* is also a common colloquial shorthand for the electricity bill or the power supply at home — "pagou a luz?" means "did you pay the electricity bill?"