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"Centellas" is a form of "centellar", an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to sparkle". "Rayos" is a form of "rayo", a noun which is often translated as "ray". Learn more about the difference between "centellas" and "rayos" below.
centellar
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
1. (general)
a. to sparkle
Las luces de la ciudad centellaban a la distancia; todavía teníamos un largo camino por delante.The city lights sparkled in the distance; we had still a long way to go.
b. to twinkle
Sus ojos centellaban como si fueran estrellas.Her eyes twinkled as if they were stars.
c. to glitter
En medio de la noche, algo centelló en el césped. Lo recogí y vi que era un anillo de diamantes.In the middle of the night, something glittered in the grass. I picked it up and saw that it was a diamond ring.
el rayo(
rrah
-
yoh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (of light)
a. bolt of lightning
Dicen que Benjamín Franklin salió en una tormenta para esperar un rayo.They say Benjamin Franklin went out in a storm to wait for a bolt of lightning.
b. flash of lightning
¿Viste ese rayo? Cayó muy cerca.Did you see that flash of lightning? It was really close.
a. spoke
Pegué un bache y se me doblaron unos rayos de la rueda de mi bici.I hit a pothole and bent a few spokes of my bike wheel.
