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How to Say "celebrity" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “celebrity” is “fama” — use 'fama' to refer to the state or quality of being widely known and recognized by the public, rather than a specific famous person..

English → Spanish

fama

FAH-mah/ˈfa.ma/

nounA2general
Use 'fama' to refer to the state or quality of being widely known and recognized by the public, rather than a specific famous person.
A person standing center stage under a bright spotlight, receiving enthusiastic applause from an unseen audience, symbolizing their famous status.

Examples

La cantante saltó a la fama después de ganar el concurso.

The singer shot to fame after winning the contest.

Mucha gente busca la fama, pero pocos la encuentran.

Many people seek fame, but few find it.

A Feminine Noun

'Fama' is always a feminine word, even though it ends in 'a'. Always use the feminine article 'la' or 'una' with it.

Using the wrong article

Mistake: “El fama”

Correction: La fama. Remember, 'fama' is feminine.

famoso

fah-MOH-soh/faˈmoso/

nounB1general
Use 'famoso' when referring to a specific person who is widely known, a famous individual.
A smiling, well-dressed figure walking confidently on a simple red carpet.

Examples

Los famosos tienen una vida muy ocupada.

Celebrities have very busy lives.

Mi hermana quiere ser una famosa de la televisión.

My sister wants to be a TV star (a famous person on TV).

Vimos a un famoso comiendo en el restaurante.

We saw a celebrity eating at the restaurant.

Adjective Acting as a Noun

In Spanish, you can often use an adjective like 'famoso' directly as a noun simply by adding the article (el, la, los, las) in front of it. This lets you talk about the person or thing that has that quality.

figura

fee-GOO-rah/fiˈɣuɾa/

nounB1general
Use 'figura' to describe a prominent or important famous person, often one who is influential in a particular field.
A simple illustration of a person standing on a small stage, illuminated by a bright spotlight, signifying prominence.

Examples

Es una figura clave en la política de este país.

She is a key figure in this country's politics.

La figura del presidente es muy respetada aquí.

The president's figure (role/person) is highly respected here.

personalidad

/per-so-na-li-dad//peɾsonaliˈðað/

nounB1general
Use 'personalidad' to refer to a well-known person, often one who is famous for their public presence or social influence, especially in events or media.
A solitary figure standing center stage, dramatically illuminated by multiple bright spotlights, suggesting fame and attention.

Examples

Muchas personalidades asistieron a la gala benéfica.

Many celebrities/public figures attended the charity gala.

El canal de televisión entrevistó a una personalidad del deporte.

The TV channel interviewed a sports personality.

Singular for Multiple People

When talking about famous people in general, you might hear the singular 'personalidad' used collectively, though the plural 'personalidades' is more common for a group.

Fama vs. Famoso

The most common mistake is using 'fama' (fame) when you mean a famous person. Remember, 'fama' refers to the state of being known, while 'famoso' refers to the actual person who is known.

Related Translations

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