# Alba

/ˈæɫbə/ (US) · /ˈælbɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/alba
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

the early morning light, just before the sun rises. It is a poetic word often used in literature and songs.

For teachers: the dawn or early morning light; the period of time immediately preceding sunrise. Literary and poetic in register; rarely used in everyday conversation.

## Examples

- The alba broke over the quiet hills.
- They watched the alba paint the sky in shades of pink and gold.
- The troubadours sang of the alba as a symbol of fleeting love and the inevitable separation of lovers at daybreak.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.