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estelar

ess-teh-LAHR/esteˈlaɾ/

“estelar” means “starring” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

starring, outstanding

Also: principal
A person dressed in a costume standing center stage under a bright spotlight, bowing to an unseen audience.

📝 In Action

Ella consiguió el papel estelar en la nueva película.

B1

She got the starring role in the new movie.

La invitada estelar de la noche fue la famosa cantante.

B1

The star guest of the night was the famous singer.

Su desempeño en la final fue absolutamente estelar.

B2

His performance in the final was absolutely brilliant (outstanding).

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • principal (main)
  • sobresaliente (outstanding)
  • magnífico (magnificent)

Antonyms

  • secundario (secondary)

Common Collocations

  • papel estelar – starring role
  • actuación estelar – stellar performance

stellar, starry

A simplified illustration of deep space showing numerous bright yellow and white stars against a dark, cosmic blue background.

📝 In Action

El telescopio nos permite observar cuerpos estelares lejanos.

B1

The telescope allows us to observe distant stellar bodies.

Es una noche estelar perfecta para ver meteoritos.

A2

It is a starry night, perfect for seeing meteorites.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cósmico (cosmic)
  • astral (astral)

Common Collocations

  • fenómeno estelar – stellar phenomenon
  • sistema estelar – star system

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "estelar" in Spanish:

outstanding→principal→starring→starry→stellar→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: estelar

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'estelar' in its figurative (outstanding/main) sense?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
estrella(star (noun)) — Noun
constelación(constellation) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
ejemplarpolar
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word *stella*, meaning 'star'. The Spanish word 'estrella' also shares this root, making 'estelar' the descriptive form of 'estrella'.

First recorded: 15th century (in Spanish)

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: stellareFrench: stellaire

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'estelar' ever mean 'starry' (full of stars)?

Yes, when describing the sky or a night, 'noche estelar' means a night full of visible stars, relating to its literal meaning.

Is 'estelar' always a positive word?

When used figuratively (to mean outstanding or brilliant), yes, it is always positive. When used literally (relating to stars), it is neutral.