01
der Star
star
A very famous and successful person, especially in film, music, or sports.
example
Dieser Schauspieler ist ein international gefeierter Star.
This actor is an internationally celebrated star.
der Star
star / starling / cataract
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 03
Usage tips
Context clues
The context makes clear which 'Star' is meant. If it is about film, music, or sports, it is a famous person. In texts about nature, it is the bird. In a medical context, it is an eye disease.
EXAMPLE
Dieser Sänger wurde über Nacht zum Star.
This singer became a star overnight.
Origin of the meanings
The meaning 'berühmte Person' (famous person) was borrowed from English. The meanings 'Vogel' (bird) and 'Augenkrankheit' (eye disease), however, are original German words. This explains the major differences in meaning.
EXAMPLE
Es ist faszinierend, wie ein Wort so verschiedene Dinge bedeuten kann wie der Star.
It is fascinating how one word can mean such different things as 'der Star'.
Fixed terms
In medical contexts, 'Star' is almost always used in the fixed terms 'der Graue Star' (cataract) or 'der Grüne Star' (glaucoma). The word rarely stands alone here.
EXAMPLE
Eine Operation wegen des Grauen Stars ist heutzutage ein Routineeingriff.
Surgery for cataracts is a routine procedure nowadays.
Typical collocations
As a famous person, 'Star' is often combined with a field to form a compound, e.g. 'Filmstar' (film star), 'Popstar' (pop star), or 'Fußballstar' (football/soccer star). The phrase 'zum Star werden' (to become a star) is also very common.
EXAMPLE
Durch diese Rolle wurde sie über Nacht zum gefeierten Filmstar.
Through this role, she became a celebrated film star overnight.
Compare with
Star vs Gott
god
'Gott' and 'Star' can both refer to a person who is greatly admired. 'Star' is the normal term for a famous and successful person, for example in music, film, or sports. 'Gott' is used in this context only figuratively and more strongly: the person is almost excessively revered, as if they were more than a normal human being. So 'Star' describes fame, while 'Gott' describes extreme admiration.
Star
Nach dem Konzert gab der Star noch Autogramme vor der Halle.
After the concert, the star signed autographs outside the hall.
Gott
Für viele Fans war der alte Stürmer ein Gott des Fußballs.
For many fans, the old striker was a god of football.
In real life
Loading video examples...