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"Centella" is a form of "centella", a noun which is often translated as "spark". "Rayo" is a form of "rayo", a noun which is often translated as "ray". Learn more about the difference between "centella" and "rayo" below.
la centella(
sehn
-
teh
-
yah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. spark
Al chocar dos piedras salen centellas, que se pueden usar para encender un fuego.When two stones are struck you get a spark which can be used to start a fire.
2. (gleam)
a. flash of lightning
Una centella anunciaba una gran tormenta.A flash of lightning forecasted a big storm.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Jorge volvió al restaurante rápido como una centella cuando se dio cuenta de que había olvidado allí su celular.Jorge returned to the bar quick as a flash when he realized he had forgotten his cell there.
Durante el sprint de la carrera Juan sobrepasó a los demás corredores rápido como una centella.Juan surpassed the other runners fast as lightning during the sprint.
el rayo(
rrah
-
yoh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (of light)
a. bolt of lightning
Dicen que Benjamín Franklin salió en una tormenta para esperar un rayo.They say Benjamin Franklin went out in a storm to wait for a bolt of lightning.
b. flash of lightning
¿Viste ese rayo? Cayó muy cerca.Did you see that flash of lightning? It was really close.
a. spoke
Pegué un bache y se me doblaron unos rayos de la rueda de mi bici.I hit a pothole and bent a few spokes of my bike wheel.
