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estrella

star

noun ehs-TREH-yah Less Common

Origin: From Latin stella ('star').

Also means

celebrity

Usage Note

Estrella is feminine. Beyond astronomy, it means a celebrity or star performer: una estrella de cine = 'a movie star'. The phrase ver las estrellas ('to see stars') describes intense physical pain. In ratings contexts, cinco estrellas = 'five stars'. The double ll is pronounced like English 'y' in standard modern Spanish (not the older 'ly' sound).

Examples

"Las estrellas brillan mucho esta noche."

Natural Translation

The stars shine a lot tonight.

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