lucir

to shine

to wear

lucir(loo-seer)

An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g. The man sneezed.).

intransitive verb

1. (to give off light)

a. to shine

Las estrellas lucen más en el bosque que en la ciudad.The stars shine more in the woods than in the city.

2. (to appear)

Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.

(Latin America)

a. to look

Luces un poco cansado. ¿Dormiste bien?You look a little tired. Did you sleep well?

3. (to look nice)

a. to look good

Llegó al baile luciendo en su nuevo vestido.She arrived at the dance looking good in her new dress.

4. (to display progress)

a. to show

Tengo diez horas trabajando en este proyecto. - ¿De verdad? Pues, no luce.I've been working on this project for ten hours. - Really? It doesn't show.

A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g. I bought a book.).

transitive verb

5. (to dress in)

a. to wear

El director fue visto luciendo un impresionante blazer color morado.The director was seen wearing a stunning purple blazer.

b. to sport

El jugador está luciendo un nuevo par de tenis.The player is sporting a new pair of sneakers.

6. (to display)

a. to show off

La actriz lució su despampanante figura.The actress showed off her stunning figure.

b. to flaunt

El levantador de pesas lució sus brazos.The weightlifter flaunted his arms.

lucirse

A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g. Te ves cansado.).

pronominal verb

7. (to outdo oneself)

a. to excel

Harriet de verdad se está luciendo en la escuela de medicina.Harriet is really excelling in medical school.

b. to shine

Como siempre, la actriz se lució en la alfombra roja.As always, the actress shone on the red carpet.

8. (to make a spectacle of oneself)

a. to make a fool of oneself

De verdad que te luciste ayer en la fiesta.You really made a fool of yourself yesterday at the party.

lucir

An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g. The man sneezed.).

intransitive verb

1. (brillar)

a. to shine

2. (quedar bonito)

a. to look good

luce mucho en el salónit looks really good in the lounge

luce mucho decir que hablas cinco idiomasbeing able to say that you speak five languages looks really good

3. (rendir)

a.

no me lucían tantas horas de trabajoI didn't have much to show for all those hours I worked

dijo que estudió mucho para el examen — pues no le ha lucidohe said he studied very hard for the exam — well, it hasn't done him much good

4. (parecer)

Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.

(Latin America)

a. to look

luce muy jovenshe looks very young

A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g. I bought a book.).

transitive verb

5. (llevar)

a. to wear, to sport

6. (exhibir)

a. to show off, to sport

A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g. Te ves cansado.).

pronominal verb

7. (destacar)

a. to shine

a la hora de cocinar, siempre se lucehe's a real star when he gets in the kitchen

8. (irónico)

a.

te has lucidoyou've excelled yourself!

lucir

intransitive verb

1 (brillar) to shine

lucían las estrellas the stars were shining

2 (destacar) to excel

no lucía en los estudios he did not excel as a student

3 (aprovechar)

trabaja mucho, pero no le luce el esfuerzo he works hard but it doesn't do him much good

así le/te/me luce el pelo

nunca estudia y así le luce el pelo he never studies and it shows

4 (Latinoamérica) (parecer) to look; seem

(te) luce lindo it looks nice (on you)

transitive verb

(ostentar) to show off; [+ropa] to sport

lucir las habilidades to show off one's talents; lucía un traje nuevo he was sporting a new suit; siempre va luciendo escote she always wears low-cut dresses

pronominal verb

lucirse

1 (destacar) to excel

Carlos se lució en el examen Carlos excelled in the exam; se lució con un gol he distinguished himself with a goal

2 (hacer el ridículo) to excel o.s.

¡te has lucido! you've excelled yourself!