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luce

loo-seh/ˈluse/

“luce” means “looks” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

looks, wears

Also: shows off
VerbA2irregular (c>zc in some forms) ir
A friendly character with a big smile wearing a new, brightly colored, stylish fedora hat, emphasizing their appearance.
infinitivelucir
gerundluciendo
past Participlelucido

📝 In Action

Ella luce un vestido espectacular para la fiesta.

A2

She looks spectacular in a dress for the party. (Literally: She wears/shows off a spectacular dress.)

Usted luce más joven con ese corte de pelo.

B1

You look younger with that haircut.

¡Luce tu nueva bicicleta por el parque!

B1

Show off your new bicycle around the park! (This is the 'tú' command form.)

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • luce bien – looks good
  • luce fatal – looks terrible

shines

Also: stands out
VerbB1irregular (c>zc in some forms) ir
A brilliant yellow star radiating strong, distinct beams of light against a simple dark blue background.

📝 In Action

La luna luce en el cielo nocturno.

B1

The moon shines in the night sky.

Aunque es tímido, su inteligencia luce en los exámenes.

B2

Although he is shy, his intelligence shines/stands out in the exams.

La estrella luce con una luz muy intensa.

B1

The star shines with a very intense light.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • brillar (to shine)
  • resaltar (to stand out)

Antonyms

  • oscurecer (to darken)

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedluce
yoluzco
túluces
ellos/ellas/ustedeslucen
nosotroslucimos
vosotroslucís

imperfect

él/ella/ustedlucía
yolucía
túlucías
ellos/ellas/ustedeslucían
nosotroslucíamos
vosotroslucíais

preterite

él/ella/ustedlució
yolucí
túluciste
ellos/ellas/ustedeslucieron
nosotroslucimos
vosotroslucisteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedluzca
yoluzca
túluzcas
ellos/ellas/ustedesluzcan
nosotrosluzcamos
vosotrosluzcáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedluciera
yoluciera
túlucieras
ellos/ellas/ustedeslucieran
nosotrosluciéramos
vosotroslucierais
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "luce" in Spanish:

looks→shines→shows off→stands out→wears→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: luce

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'luce' in the sense of 'showing off' or 'looking elegant'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
lucir(to shine, to look good) — Verb
luz(light) — Noun
reluciente(shining, sparkling) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
crucesconduce
📚 Etymology▼

The verb *lucir* comes directly from the Latin word *lucēre*, which meant 'to shine' or 'to be bright.' This root is the same one that gives us the Spanish word *luz* (light). Over time, the meaning extended from physical light to the appearance of someone or something, suggesting they are 'bright' or 'standing out.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: lucereFrench: luire

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'luce' the same as 'brilla'?

'Luce' (from *lucir*) and 'brilla' (from *brillar*) both mean 'shines.' However, *lucir* is also used for appearance ('looks good'), while *brillar* is generally reserved for physical light or exceptional performance.

How do I know if 'luce' means 'he shines' or 'he looks good'?

Look at the subject. If the subject is a person wearing clothes or describing their style, it means 'looks good.' If the subject is the sun, a light, or an abstract quality like talent, it means 'shines' or 'stands out.'