Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| stella | /ˈstel.la/ (standard) /ˈstɛl.la/ (Milan) |
feminine |
| astro | /ˈas.tro/ | masculine |
In Italian, the term for a luminous celestial body made of plasma can be expressed in different ways depending on the context. While stella is the standard term for a star in the sky, it is also used figuratively to describe a famous person or a standout performer.
Which one should you use?
stella is the common word used for both celestial bodies and for a famous person or a standout performer. In contrast, astro is a more formal or technical term used in astronomy to refer generally to a celestial body.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
stella is a feminine noun, and its plural form is stelle. The masculine term astro has the plural form astri.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈstel.la/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use the word stellare to mean 'to star in a movie'. This is an incorrect formation. Instead, use the phrases avere il ruolo principale or avere il ruolo da protagonista.
When do people say it?
A shooting star is called a stella cadente in Italian.
Did you know?
- In Italian culture, the phrase stella can be used as an affectionate nickname for a loved one, similar to how English speakers use 'sunshine'.
- The Greek root of astro is connected to the concept of 'burning' or 'glowing', which describes the physical nature of a star.
- The word astro is the root for many Italian words related to space and stars, such as astronomia and astrologia.
Examples in context
- Tom è una stella.Tom is a star.This sentence shows how to use stella to describe a person.Tatoeba #13986093 by Guybrush88, translation #12550013 by CK
- Lui è una stella.He's a star.This sentence demonstrates the use of stella when referring to a person.Tatoeba #13986123 by Guybrush88, translation #6576215 by Eccles17
- Io ero la stella.I was the star.This sentence illustrates the use of stella in a past tense context.Tatoeba #13986128 by Guybrush88, translation #5851448 by CK
- La stella più luminosa nel cielo è la stella Polare.The brightest star in the sky is the North Star.
- L'astronoma studia le stelle nel suo osservatorio.The astronomer studies the stars in her observatory.
- Ciao, stellina! Come stai?Hello, little star! How are you?
- Hai fatto un ottimo lavoro, stellina!You did a great job, little star!
- Spero che la prossima stella cadente possa realizzare i tuoi desideri.I hope the next shooting star can make your wishes come true.
- Guarda! C'è una stella cadente nel cielo!Look! There's a shooting star in the sky!
- 149 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Lorenzo are stargazing in a dark field.
- SofiaLorenzo, guarda quella stella!Lorenzo, look at that star!
- LorenzoSì, è molto bella.Yes, it is very beautiful.
- SofiaSembra così lontana.It seems so far away.
- LorenzoTutte le stelle sono lontane.All the stars are far away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “star” translations and entries stella, astro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries astro, stella, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
