scintiller
/sɛ̃.ti.je/
The English phrase 'sparkle' can be translated into French as scintiller.
The verb is used to describe something that manifests as if by emitting sparks or to describe a glistening effect.
Meaning: to manifest as if by emitting sparks, glisten (verb)
Which one should you use?
The form étinceler is used predominantly for sparkling light, denoting a dazzling or gleaming effect.
How do you pronounce it?
/sɛ̃.ti.je/
Did you know?
- French uses the word pétillant to describe the sparkle of champagne or sparkling water. This word evokes the sound of popping bubbles rather than just the visual glisten of scintiller.
- The word scintiller is a direct loan from the Latin scintillāre, while the similar word étinceler evolved naturally through Vulgar Latin. This makes them 'doublets', meaning they share a common root but took different paths into French.
- While scintiller refers to the physical act of sparkling, if you want to describe a person's eyes sparkling with mischief, you might use the expression briller de malice.
Examples in context
- Les étoiles scintillent dans le cielThe stars sparkle in the sky
- Les diamants étincelaient à la lumièreThe diamonds sparkled in the light
- Ses yeux brillaient d'un éclat vifHis/her eyes sparkled brightly
- Le feu de la cheminée étincelait de mille éclatsThe fireplace sparkled with a thousand glimmers
- La danse contemporaine fait des étincelles sur scèneContemporary dance sparkles on stage
- Ce champagne pétillait de bulles finesThis champagne sparkled with fine bubbles
- L'eau de la mer se met à scintiller.The seawater begins to glisten.
- Regarde, le sable semble scintiller sous le soleil.Look, the sand seems to sparkle under the sun.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry scintiller, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries scintiller, CC BY-SA 4.0.
