cielo estrellado
Lemma Details
Translation: starry sky; starlit sky; star-studded sky
Part of Speech: noun phrase
Etymology: Compound phrase from 'cielo' (sky) and 'estrellado' (starred/starry). 'Cielo' derives from Latin 'caelum' (sky, heaven), related to English 'celestial'. 'Estrellado' comes from 'estrella' (star), from Latin 'stella', sharing the same Indo-European root as English 'star'. The imagery of a sky filled with stars has been culturally significant across civilizations, reflected in similar expressions in many languages.
Commonality: 60%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'cielo' as 'ceiling' of the world, and 'estrellado' sounds like 'star-laid-out'
- Remember 'estrellado' contains 'estrella' (star) + '-ado' (a past participle ending indicating 'filled with')
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
The concept of 'cielo estrellado' appears frequently in Spanish poetry, literature, and songs, often symbolizing beauty, infinity, and romantic settings. In rural Spanish-speaking areas where light pollution is minimal, the 'cielo estrellado' holds special cultural significance and is associated with folklore and traditional celebrations.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: As a noun phrase referring to the night sky with visible stars vs. a cooking term for fried eggs
Notes: In Spanish, 'huevos estrellados' (literally 'starred eggs') refers to fried eggs because of their star-like appearance when cooked. This can create confusion with 'cielo estrellado' for beginners.
Mnemonic: Remember: stars in the sky vs. eggs in the pan
Explanation: 'Cielo estrellado' refers to the night sky with stars, while 'cielo raso' means ceiling in architecture
This word:
El cielo estrellado brillaba intensamente esa noche.
The starry sky shone brightly that night.
Notes: Both phrases contain 'cielo' but refer to completely different concepts - one natural, one architectural.
Mnemonic: Stars are in the sky outside; 'raso' (flat) is inside your house