nocturnal

Meaning

Adj

1. Primarily active during the night.
2. Taking place at night, nightly.

Noun

1. A person or creature that is active at night.
2. (historical) A device for telling the time at night, rather like a sundial but read according to the stars.

Synonyms

nightly

night

🌃

midnight

moonlight

nighttime

overnight

vespertine

all-night

belonging to the night

evening

🌆

Translations

nocturne

nocturno

🌃

nächtlich

nachtelijk

notturno

nocturn

νυκτόβιος

νυκτερινός

nachtaktiv

nocturno

de nuit

noturno

Nacht-

ليلي

Pronounced as (IPA)

/nɒkˈtɜː(ɹ).nəl/

Etymology

Cognate with Ancient Greek: νύξ

Cognate with Sanskrit: नक्ति

Cognate with Old English: niht

Cognate with English: night

In summary

From Middle French nocturnal, from Latin nocturnus (“nocturnal, nightly”), from Latin nox (“night”), from Proto-Indo-European *nókʷts (“night”). Cognates include Ancient Greek νύξ (núx), Sanskrit नक्ति (nákti), Old English niht (English night) and Proto-Slavic *noťь.