Adjective
/obˈskuɾo/
The word "obscuro" in Spanish primarily refers to something that is dark, either in the literal sense (e.g., a dark room) or in a metaphorical sense (e.g., an obscure concept or an unclear idea). It can describe physical surroundings that lack light, as well as knowledge or information that is not clear or is difficult to understand. The word is frequently used in both oral and written contexts, particularly in literature, philosophy, and discussions that involve ambiguity or lack of clarity.
La habitación estaba oscura y era difícil ver.
The room was dark, and it was hard to see.
Su explicación fue tan oscura que no entendí nada.
His explanation was so obscure that I understood nothing.
El artista pintó un cuadro que refleja un sentimiento oscuro.
The artist painted a picture that reflects a dark feeling.
The word "obscuro" also appears in various idiomatic expressions in Spanish, often conveying notions of ambiguity, mystery, or a lack of understanding.
En muchas ocasiones, los participantes estaban en la oscuridad sobre el progreso del proyecto.
On many occasions, the participants were in the dark about the project's progress.
Un futuro oscuro.
A dark future.
Los pronósticos económicos sugieren un futuro oscuro para la industria.
Economic forecasts suggest a dark future for the industry.
Ideas oscuras.
Obscure ideas.
El filósofo exploró ideas oscuras que desafiaban la comprensión común.
The philosopher explored obscure ideas that challenged common understanding.
No todo lo que brilla es oro, a veces hay un trasfondo oscuro.
Not everything that glitters is gold; sometimes there is a dark background.
The word "obscuro" derives from the Latin "obscurus," which means dark or darkened. This Latin word is rooted in the Proto-Indo-European *n̥eḱ-, meaning "to be dark." Over time, "obscuro" has maintained its core meanings relating to darkness and obscurity in various contexts.