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rayo

lightning bolt

noun RRAH-yoh Less Common

Also means

ray (of light)

Usage Note

Rayo means both a bolt of lightning (cayó un rayo) and a ray or beam of light (rayos de sol, rayos X). The initial r is always a strong trill (rr-sound). The plural rayos is regular. The exclamation ¡rayos! is a mild expletive comparable to 'blast!' or 'darn!'. Do not confuse with rayo from rayar (to scratch) — that verb form is unrelated.

Examples

"Un rayo cayó cerca de la casa durante la tormenta."

Natural Translation

A lightning bolt struck near the house during the storm.

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