21 December 2025
How do you say star in German?
The German word for star is der Stern.It’s used to talk about the stars in the sky, Hollywood celebrities, symbolic decorations, and five-star ratings. Whether you’re watching the stars or giving someone one, Stern in German is a word full of sparkle and meaning.
It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German (and the free illustrated PDF is ready for download), so you’ll encounter it in everyday life, poetry, holidays, and reviews.
Gender and Pronunciation
It’s a masculine noun: der Stern.Need help making noun gender easier? This video lesson gives you practical ways to spot patterns and remember them.
Pronunciation:Stern is pronounced [shtern]
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The vowel is short German e; final rn may have a lightly vocalized r. American learn is only a rough approximation, not an exact rhyme.
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Starts with “sh” as in “shoe”One syllable: SHTERN
Example sentences
Am Himmel leuchten die Sterne.
The stars are shining in the sky.
Sie bekam fünf Sterne für das Restaurant.
She got five stars for the restaurant.
Der Stern auf dem Baum ist aus Gold.
The star on the tree is made of gold.
Nuance and usage tips
🌟 Stern can mean:
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A celestial object (the actual star in the sky)
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A rating unit, as in 5-Sterne-Hotel
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A symbol, like a decorative or holiday star
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A famous person, in compounds like Filmstern (rare - Star is more common for celebs)
📈 It appears in both scientific and emotional/poetic language - think ein heller Stern (a bright star) vs. du bist mein Stern (you are my star).
🎄 Especially in Christmas contexts, Stern is everywhere - Sternsinger, Stern von Bethlehem, Sternenlicht.
How does this word come up in real conversations?
“Schau mal - eine Sternschnuppe!”
Look - a shooting star!
“Ich hab das Buch mit vier Sternen bewertet.”
I rated the book with four stars.
“Der Stern war das schönste Geschenk.”
The star was the most beautiful gift.
Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)
Lena: Der Himmel ist heute so klar!Noah: Ja, man sieht richtig viele Sterne.Lena: Da! Eine Sternschnuppe!Noah: Schnell, wünsch dir was!
Translation:Lena: The sky is so clear tonight!Noah: Yes, you can really see a lot of stars.Lena: Look! A shooting star!Noah: Quick, make a wish!
Grammatical case examples
Nominative:Der Stern ist besonders hell heute.
The star is especially bright tonight.
Accusative:Ich sehe den Stern genau über dem Baum.
I see the star right above the tree.
Dative:Mit dem Stern am Himmel fühle ich mich ruhig.
With the star in the sky, I feel calm.
Genitive:Die Farbe des Sterns verändert sich.
The color of the star is changing.
Other ways to say star in German
While Stern is the standard word for star in German, other options include:
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Sternschnuppe - shooting star
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Himmelskörper - celestial body (technical)
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Star - borrowed from English, for a celebrity, not used for celestial bodies
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Fixstern - fixed star (astronomy)
But Stern is your all-purpose go-to for stars in the sky, symbols, and decorations.
Word variations and tidbits
Der Stern appears in:
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Sternschnuppe - shooting star
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Weihnachtsstern - Christmas star or poinsettia
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Morgenstern / Abendstern - morning star / evening star (usually Venus, a planet rather than a star)
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Fünf-Sterne-Hotel - five-star hotel
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Sternbild - constellation
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Sternzeichen - zodiac sign
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Sternenhimmel - starry sky
Idiomatically, you might hear:Nach den Sternen greifen - “to reach for the stars” (dream big)Unter einem guten Stern stehen - “to be favored by good fortune”Das steht in den Sternen - “Nobody knows yet” (literally “That is written in the stars”). Du bist mein Stern (“You are my star”) is an affectionate metaphor, rather than a fixed idiom.
🧠 Fun fact: Der Stern is also the name of a major German news magazine - so don’t be surprised if you see the word in bold on the front of a newsstand!
📘 Duden entry for Stern🎥 Want to make your vocabulary shine? Our free video course teaches the top 1000 German nouns - with clear examples, real-life uses, and a printable illustrated PDF that’ll make your learning sparkle.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?Do you know what Stein means? Sometimes, even stars are built on one.And what about Schwachsinn? You’ll know the difference when you’re shooting for the Stern.
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