étoile
/e.twal/
The English word 'estrella' is translated into French as étoile.
The word étoile refers to a luminous point in the night sky that is a distant sun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /e.twal/.
Did you know?
- In French ballet, the highest rank a dancer can achieve is étoile. This title is often awarded based on the director's choice rather than a formal competition.
- The Place de l'Étoile in Paris is named for its radial urban design where twelve avenues meet at a single central point like a star.
- The French word étoile is a doublet of the female name Estelle. Both names share the same linguistic origin despite their different spellings and sounds.
Examples in context
- Regarde cette étoile brillante.Look at that bright star.
- Il y a une étoile dans le ciel.There is a star in the sky.
- Cette étoile semble très loin.This star seems very far away.
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are looking at the night sky together.
- LéaHugo, regarde l'étoile là-bas !Hugo, look at the star over there!
- HugoElle est vraiment magnifique ce soir.It is truly magnificent tonight.
- LéaJe me demande quelle étoile c'est.I wonder which star that is.
- HugoJe pense que c'est Sirius.I think it is Sirius.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry étoile, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries étoile, CC BY-SA 4.0.
