celeBre

Celebre is a Romance-language adjective meaning famous or celebrated. In French the form is célèbre; in Spanish célebre; in Italian and Portuguese it appears as celebre or célebre. The word is used to describe people, works, or events that are widely known or held in high esteem, and it appears in everyday speech as well as in literature and journalism. Examples include French phrases like un homme célèbre, Spanish phrases like una figura célebre, Italian phrases like una persona celebre, and Portuguese phrases like uma pessoa célebre.

Etymology: Celebre derives from a Romance-language lineage tracing to Latin celeber/celebri, meaning crowded or renowned, via Old French celebre. The root is related to celebrāre “to celebrate.” English words such as celebrate and celebrity share the same Latin origin, even though their modern senses have diverged.

Usage notes: Accent marks in the various languages indicate pronunciation and stress, but the fundamental sense remains “famous” across varieties. In English-language usage, célebre or celebre is rare and usually appears in discussions of language, translations, or as part of titles; common synonyms are famous, renowned, or celebrated.