estrella
/es-TREH-yah/
star
The word estrella refers to a celestial body shining brightly in the night sky.
📝 In Action
Por la noche, me gusta mirar las estrellas.
A1At night, I like to look at the stars.
El sol es la estrella más importante de nuestro sistema solar.
A2The sun is the most important star in our solar system.
Pedí un deseo cuando vi la estrella fugaz.
B1I made a wish when I saw the shooting star.
💡 Grammar Points
Always a Feminine Word
'Estrella' is a feminine noun, so you always use 'la' or 'una' with it. For example, 'la estrella' (the star) or 'una estrella brillante' (a bright star).
Estrella can also mean a famous performer or celebrity.
estrella(Noun)
star
?a famous performer or celebrity
headliner
?the main act
,luminary
?an influential person
📝 In Action
Mi actor favorito es una gran estrella de cine.
A2My favorite actor is a big movie star.
Se convirtió en una estrella del pop a los 18 años.
B1She became a pop star at 18 years old.
Messi es la estrella principal del equipo.
B1Messi is the main star of the team.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Even for Men
Even if you're talking about a male celebrity, the word 'estrella' itself stays feminine. You say, 'Él es una estrella famosa' (He is a famous star).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'un' for a male star
Mistake: "Él es un estrella de Hollywood."
Correction: Él es una estrella de Hollywood. The word 'estrella' is always feminine, no matter who it describes.
This word is also used to describe a rating symbol, often indicating high quality or excellence.
📝 In Action
Nos quedamos en un hotel de cinco estrellas.
B1We stayed in a five-star hotel.
¿Cuántas estrellas le diste al restaurante en tu reseña?
B1How many stars did you give the restaurant in your review?
Este producto tiene una calificación de 4.5 estrellas.
B2This product has a 4.5-star rating.
⭐ Usage Tips
Always Plural for Ratings
When talking about ratings, you almost always use the plural form 'estrellas', unless you are specifically talking about a single star (like a one-star review).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: estrella
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'estrella' to talk about a famous person?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'estrella' and 'astro'?
Great question! 'Estrella' specifically means 'star,' like the sun or the lights you see in the night sky. 'Astro' is a more general, scientific word for any object in space, like a planet, moon, comet, or star. So, every 'estrella' is an 'astro', but not every 'astro' is an 'estrella'.
I saw 'huevos estrellados' on a menu. What does that mean?
This is a fun one! 'Huevos estrellados' means 'fried eggs,' usually sunny-side up. The verb 'estrellar' means 'to smash' or 'to crash.' So the name literally means 'smashed eggs,' probably because you crack (smash) them into the pan!