étoile
/e.twal/feminine
The French word for the astronomical star is étoile.
étoile is a noun used in an astronomical context to refer to a luminous celestial body made of plasma.
Meaning: (astronomy) a luminous celestial body made of plasma (noun)
Which one should you use?
While étoile refers to the celestial body, the word vedette or the English loanword star is often used to refer to a celebrity or a star of a show. Additionally, the phrase étoile filante is used specifically for a shooting star, which literally translates to a 'sliding' or 'flowing' star.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
étoile is a feminine noun. This means you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it, such as une étoile or une belle étoile.
How do you pronounce it?
/e.twal/
Did you know?
- The term étoile is used in ballet to denote the highest rank of dancer in the Paris Opera Ballet.
- While étoile refers to the object, the word vedette for a celebrity comes from the word for a 'scout ship' or a leading vessel.
- The spelling of étoile contains a circumflex accent over the 'e', which historically indicates where an 's' used to be in the word.
Examples in context
- Je vois une étoile.I see a star.This sentence shows how to use étoile to describe seeing a star.Tatoeba #2366370 by nimfeo, translation #1912219 by CM
- Une étoile filante !Oh! A shooting star!This sentence provides the phrase for a shooting star using étoile.Tatoeba #8302979 by Micsmithel, translation #6984959 by Hybrid
- Vois-tu une étoile ?Do you see a star?This sentence uses étoile in a question about seeing a star.Tatoeba #10308606 by sacredceltic, translation #1912217 by CM
- La Grande Ourse est une constellation composée de plusieurs étoiles.The Big Dipper is a constellation made up of several stars.
- J'ai vu une étoile filante hier soir.I saw a shooting star last night.
- Mon petit bébé, tu es ma petite étoile.My little baby, you are my little star.
- 97 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are looking at the night sky through a telescope.
- NathanRegarde cette étoile, Chloé !Look at that star, Chloé!
- ChloéElle est magnifique, Nathan.It is magnificent, Nathan.
- NathanEst-ce une nouvelle étoile ?Is it a new star?
- ChloéNon, c'est une étoile très connue.No, it is a very well-known star.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “star” translations and entries étoile, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
