alpenglow: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Literary, Descriptive, Technical (Meteorology/Geography)
Quick answer
What does “alpenglow” mean?
A reddish or rosy glow often seen on mountain peaks just before sunrise or after sunset.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A reddish or rosy glow often seen on mountain peaks just before sunrise or after sunset.
A natural phenomenon where mountain snowfields, ice, or rock faces are lit with a soft red, pink, or orange light, caused by the scattering of sunlight through the atmosphere long after or before direct sunlight is possible. It can also be used figuratively to describe a warm, nostalgic, or romantic glow.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The term is used identically.
Connotations
Slightly more established in North American English due to the prominence of the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada, but equally understood in British English.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech for both, but may be slightly more common in North American outdoor/wilderness writing.
Grammar
How to Use “alpenglow” in a Sentence
The [mountain/peak/range] was bathed in/caught in/lit by alpenglow.We watched/photographed/saw the alpenglow on [the summit].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “alpenglow” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The alpenglow light was perfect for the shot.
- They described an alpenglow moment.
American English
- We were hoping for an alpenglow effect on the Tetons.
- It was an alpenglow evening.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in physical geography, meteorology, or environmental science papers describing mountain phenomena.
Everyday
Rare; used primarily by hikers, climbers, photographers, and nature enthusiasts to describe a striking visual scene.
Technical
A specific term in mountain meteorology and glaciology for the indirect illumination of high-altitude terrain.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “alpenglow”
- Spelling: 'alpenglow' (one word), not 'alpen glow'.
- Using it for any sunset glow, not specifically for mountains.
- Pronouncing the first syllable like 'alp' as in the animal (ælp) instead of 'alp' as in Alps (alp/ælpən).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an English word formed from the German 'Alpen' (Alps) + the English 'glow'. It is a calque or loan translation of the German word 'Alpenglühen'.
By strict definition, no. The term is specific to high, snow-covered or rocky mountain terrain illuminated indirectly. Similar optical effects can occur on tall clouds or buildings, but they are not called alpenglow.
Alpenglow is light on a physical object (the mountain). The 'Belt of Venus' is a pinkish band in the sky opposite the sunset, seen in the atmosphere itself. They are related phenomena occurring under similar conditions.
Yes, the optical phenomenon is identical. It is called evening alpenglow (after sunset) or morning alpenglow (before sunrise). The evening occurrence is more commonly observed and photographed.
A reddish or rosy glow often seen on mountain peaks just before sunrise or after sunset.
Alpenglow is usually literary, descriptive, technical (meteorology/geography) in register.
Alpenglow: in British English it is pronounced /ˈalpəngləʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈælpənɡloʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the ALPs ENjoying a pink GLOW. Alpenglow.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A LIGHT SHOW (the alpenglow marks a specific, beautiful moment in the daily cycle); BEAUTY IS FLEETING (the alpenglow lasts only a few minutes).
Practice
Quiz
Alpenglow is most accurately defined as: