French word

céleste

Pronunciation

IPA/selɛst/

Meaning

  • adjectiveheavenly

Example

Une lumière céleste éclairait la chambre.

A heavenly light illuminated the room.

Illustration for céleste (heavenly)

More examples

C'était un moment céleste pour nous.

It was a heavenly moment for us.

Core concept

A pure light or presence seems to rise from the sky, suggesting serene and extraordinary beauty.

Common phrases

  • un moment céleste

    a heavenly moment

  • une expérience céleste

    a heavenly experience

Similar words

divin: Connected with God or a divine nature, and marked by holiness.
sacré: Considered holy and deserving of deep religious respect.
angélique: Having an angel's gentle, innocent, and peaceful qualities.

Definition in French

Qui relève du ciel ou du divin, et employé au sens figuré pour décrire quelque chose de sublime ou d'extraordinaire.

Word origin

The French adjective céleste comes through Old French from Latin caelestis, which is based on caelum, meaning sky or heaven.

Usage tips

  • In phrases such as objet céleste, céleste can refer neutrally to something in the sky, while its poetic use suggests elevated beauty.

Other meanings

  • celestialadjective
  • divineadjective

Opposites

  • terrestreterrestrialadjective
  • profaneprofaneadjective

Word lists with this word