brillante
/bɾiˈʝante/
The English word 'shining' is translated into Spanish as brillante.
brillante is an adjective used to describe something that is emitting light. If you want to describe someone's personality or character as if they shine with a specific quality, you can use the verb irradiar.
Meaning: emitting light (adj)
Which one should you use?
While brillante can mean 'shining' (emitting light), it is also the standard word for 'brilliant' (intellectually gifted or excellent).
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective brillante becomes brillantes when describing plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɾiˈʝante/
Did you know?
- Spanish distinguishes between brillante for a constant shine and reluciente for something that is shining because it is polished or brand new. A 'shining' new car is more likely to be reluciente than brillante.
- In Spanish, the word brillante can be used as a noun to refer to a 'brilliant-cut' diamond. In this context, it refers to the specific way a stone is faceted to maximize its shine.
- The word brillante shares a distant ancestry with the Greek word for 'beryl', a precious gemstone. This connection links the concept of physical shine to the sparkle of rare minerals.
Examples in context
- Ella es un brillante ejemplo de absolutamente nada.She is a shining example of absolutely nothing.This sentence uses brillante to show how it can be used in an idiomatic expression meaning 'shining example'.Tatoeba #1346813 by marcelostockle, translation #712519 by papabear
- Tom vino a salvar a Mary como un caballero de armadura brillante.Tom came to save Mary like a knight in shining armor.This sentence demonstrates the use of brillante in the phrase 'shining armor'.Tatoeba #13849330 by mervert1, translation #5357930 by Hybrid
- En un buen día de primavera, cuando Jan estaba excavando en la caja de arena en el patio, encontró una pequeña caja. Dentro de la caja había una navaja brillante con una inscripción misteriosa.On a nice spring day, when Jan was digging in the sandbox in the backyard, he found a small box. In the box was a shining switchblade with a mysterious inscription.This sentence illustrates brillante being used to describe a physical object (a switchblade) that is emitting light.Tatoeba #1275766 by arashi_29, translation #486939 by Dorenda
- El sol produce una luz brillante en el cielo.The sun produces a shining light in the sky.
- Su sonrisa es radiante y llena de felicidad.Her smile is shining and full of happiness.
- La luna está resplandeciente esta noche.The moon is shining brightly tonight.
- Las estrellas están brillando en el cielo despejado.The stars are shining in the clear sky.
- ¡Qué anillo más reluciente tienes!What a shining ring you have!
- Ella irradia alegría y optimismo en todo momento.She shines with joy and optimism at all times.
- Los zapatos brillantes de María complementan su atuendo.Maria's shining shoes complement her outfit.
- El sol está más brillante hoy que ayer.The sun is shining brighter today than yesterday.
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are looking at the night sky.
- AlejandroMira esa estrella tan brillante.Look at that very shining star.
- MaríaEs verdad, Alejandro. Es hermosa.It is true, Alejandro. It is beautiful.
- AlejandroParece un diamante brillante en el cielo.It looks like a shining diamond in the sky.
- MaríaMe encanta observar el espacio.I love observing space.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry brillante, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries brillante, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
