zvijezda

Zvijezda is a noun used in Croatian and Bosnian to denote a celestial star and, by extension, a famous or celebrated person. In Serbian, the cognate form zvezda is used. The word is feminine in gender, with plural zvijezde in Croatian/Bosnian and zvezde in Serbian. It appears frequently in everyday speech, literature, and media, and in phrases such as filmska zvijezda meaning a movie star.

Etymology and cognates: The term originates in Proto-Slavic as *zvězda or a closely related form, giving rise to similar words across Slavic languages. Related forms include Russian zvezda, Czech hvězda, Polish gwiazda, and Slovene zvezda. The variations reflect regular sound changes and orthographic conventions in different languages, while the core meaning remains “star.”

Usage and meaning: In astronomical contexts, zvijezda refers to a star in the sky, not the Sun specifically. Metaphorically, it can denote a well-known person, such as a celebrity or public figure. The term also appears in compound expressions and literary uses to emphasize brightness, prominence, or influence. In everyday language, speakers may use zvijezda to describe someone who stands out or excels, as in a celebrity’s status or a person’s standout quality.

Related terms: The noun is connected to zviježđe, which means constellation, reflecting a shared root related to starry formations. Adjectival forms and derivatives, such as stellar or star-like, arise from the same root in various Slavic languages.

Notes: Spelling and pronunciation vary by language and orthographic conventions, with Croatian/Bosnian using zvijezda and Serbian often using zvezda.