Inklingo

How to Say "to excel" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to excel” is “brillar” — use 'brillar' when someone is exceptionally talented or performs outstandingly well in a general task or subject, like shining brightly in their abilities..

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brillar

/bree-YAR//briˈʎaɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'brillar' when someone is exceptionally talented or performs outstandingly well in a general task or subject, like shining brightly in their abilities.
One vibrant red tulip standing taller than a field of white tulips.

Examples

Mi hijo brilla en la clase de ciencias.

My son excels in science class.

Ella brilla en las matemáticas.

She excels at math.

El actor brilló por su actuación en la película.

The actor stood out for his performance in the movie.

Quiero que brilles en tu entrevista de trabajo.

I want you to shine in your job interview.

Standing out 'for' something

When you want to say someone excels because of a specific reason, use 'por'. Example: 'Brilla por su inteligencia' (He stands out because of his intelligence).

sobresalir

/so-bre-sah-LEER//soβɾesaˈliɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'sobresalir' when someone's performance is so good that they stand out from the rest in a particular context or group.
A single bright yellow flower growing taller and more vibrant than a group of small white flowers around it.

Examples

Ella siempre logra sobresalir en sus clases de arte.

She always manages to stand out in her art classes.

Es difícil sobresalir en un mercado tan competitivo.

It is difficult to excel in such a competitive market.

Su talento para la música la hace sobresalir del resto.

Her talent for music makes her stand out from the rest.

Using 'en' vs 'entre'

Use 'en' when saying what field you excel in (sobresalir en música), and 'entre' or 'por encima de' when comparing yourself to a group (sobresalir entre los demás).

The 'go' change

In the 'Yo' form of the present and for commands, the word adds a 'g' (sobresalgo), just like the verb 'salir'.

Confusing with 'salir'

Mistake: “Yo salgo de la clase para sobresalir.”

Correction: Yo sobresalgo en la clase.

Brillar vs. Sobresalir

Learners often confuse 'brillar' and 'sobresalir' because both indicate high achievement. Remember that 'brillar' is more about innate talent shining through in any activity, while 'sobresalir' specifically means standing out from peers.

Related Translations

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