brillar
“brillar” means “to shine” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to shine
Also: to sparkle, to glow
📝 In Action
El sol brilla mucho hoy.
A1The sun is shining a lot today.
Tus zapatos brillan como si fueran nuevos.
A2Your shoes are shining as if they were new.
Las estrellas brillaban en el cielo despejado.
B1The stars were shining in the clear sky.
to stand out
Also: to excel
📝 In Action
Ella brilla en las matemáticas.
B1She excels at math.
El actor brilló por su actuación en la película.
B2The actor stood out for his performance in the movie.
Quiero que brilles en tu entrevista de trabajo.
B1I want you to shine in your job interview.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
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🗣️ Practice in a Tongue Twister
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: brillar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence uses 'brillar' in a figurative sense (to stand out)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'beryllare', which comes from 'beryllus' (beryl), a precious gemstone known for its shine.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'brillar' regular?
Yes! 'Brillar' follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar.
Can I use 'brillar' to say I am polishing my shoes?
Not exactly. 'Brillar' is the act of shining. To polish something, you should say 'sacar brillo' or 'limpiar'.
What is the difference between 'brillar' and 'relucir'?
'Brillar' is the general word for shining. 'Relucir' is often used for things that are very clean or polished and catch the light suddenly.