Spanish word of the day: Chispear

What does chispear mean?

Chispear (verb) — This versatile verb has a few meanings, but you’ll most often hear it used in two ways: to describe a very light rain (drizzling or sprinkling)

Example sentences with chispear

• Hoy no llueve fuerte, solo chispea.
  🌦️ It’s not raining hard today, it’s just drizzling.

• Las estrellas chispeaban en el cielo nocturno.
  ✨ The stars sparkled in the night sky.

• Ese enchufe está chispeando, ten cuidado.
  ⚡ That socket is sparking, be careful.

Confused about how to conjugate this word? Our conjugation tables can help.

Chispear in context

You’ll hear chispear a lot when people are talking about the weather, especially in Spain and Latin America. If you look outside and see it’s not quite raining—just a few drops here and there—someone will say, “solo chispea.” It’s that in-between state where you’re not sure if you need an umbrella or not. This word pops up in daily life during those indecisive weather moments, and it’s a handy way to describe light rain without exaggerating.

Chispear is also related to “chispas” (sparks) , therefore, also the perfect verb for describing things that shine or emit little sparks, like a fire crackling in the fireplace. You might hear it in stories or conversations about a cozy night at home—“me encanta escuchar cómo chispea el fuego”—or when talking about something that literally gives off sparks, like faulty wiring.