The disclosure relates to a method for illuminating a road area by a motor vehicle having the following steps: determining a trajectory relating to a future movement of the motor vehicle on a road, calculating a light distribution for a headlamp of the motor vehicle as a function of the determined trajectory in such a manner that a course of the trajectory is projected onto the road as part of the light distribution, and emitting a brightness distribution corresponding to the light distribution by the headlamp onto the road. In order to facilitate an improved overview of the driving of the motor vehicle, the light distribution is additionally calculated as a function of the determined trajectory in such a manner that, based on the light distribution in addition to the trajectory, an acceleration of the motor vehicle parallel to its longitudinal direction is also symbolized.