twinkle
gb/twˈɪŋkəl/ us/twˈɪŋkəl/
B1
English
~ 9600
pislákol, csillog, felcsillan, fényvillanás, csillanás, csillogás, repked, fürgén mozog, pillanat, szempillantás
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[something] twinkles
The stars twinkled above the quiet village.
A csillagok pislákoltak a csendes falu fölött.
Tiny fairy lights twinkled along the garden fence.
Apró fényfüzérek fényei pislákoltak a kerti kerítés mentén.
Far out at sea, a single ship’s lantern twinkled in the distance.
Frost on the grass twinkled in the early morning sun.
At night you could see the town lights twinkling in the valley below.
Learner examples
The stars twinkle in the night sky.
A csillagok pislákolnak az éjszakai égen.
Small lights twinkled on the Christmas tree.
Apró fények pislákoltak a karácsonyfán.
Snow on the roof twinkled in the sun.
We saw a light twinkling on the mountain.
Many windows twinkled in the dark city.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "twinkle" with "tinkle". "Twinkle" is about light, while "tinkle" is about a small, light sound, like a bell or glass.
Meaning
shine with small quick flashes
Collocations
twinkling stars
|stars twinkle
|twinkling lights
|city lights twinkle
|twinkle in the sky
Synonyms
sparkle (Often suggests many bright points of light, sometimes stronger or more lively than a gentle twinkle.)
|
glisten (Emphasizes light shining on a wet or smooth surface, not specifically small repeated flashes.)
Antonyms
darken (Describes becoming dark or losing light, the opposite of shining with small flashes.)
Themes
nature
|visual
|weather
|science
Definition
To shine with many small, quick lights, like stars in the night sky.
To shine with many small, brief flashes of light, often appearing to go brighter and dimmer in a gentle way.
VERB
B2
2
csillog
B1
felcsillan
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s eyes twinkle (with [emotion])
Her eyes twinkled with amusement as she listened to the story.
Derűsen csillogott a szeme, miközben a történetet hallgatta.
He didn’t say anything, but his eyes twinkled with pride.
Nem mondott semmit, de büszkeségtől csillogott a szeme.
Grandpa’s eyes twinkled with mischief when he suggested we skip bedtime.
The teacher’s eyes twinkled kindly as she handed back the test papers.
A secret seemed to make his eyes twinkle with excitement.
Learner examples
Her eyes twinkled when she saw the gift.
Felcsillant a szeme, amikor meglátta az ajándékot.
His eyes twinkled with a happy smile.
Boldogan mosolygott, és csillogott a szeme.
The old man’s eyes twinkled with joy.
The child’s eyes twinkled when he ate the cake.
My father’s eyes twinkled when he told the joke.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to say *"his face twinkled"* when they mean the person looked happy. Usually, only the **eyes** are said to twinkle; for the whole face you can say "his face lit up" or "she smiled brightly."
Meaning
eyes shining with feeling
Collocations
eyes twinkled
|twinkling eyes
|twinkle with amusement
|twinkle with mischief
|twinkle with laughter
Synonyms
sparkle (Very close in meaning, but can sound a bit stronger or more excited than a gentle twinkle.)
|
gleam (Suggests a sudden clear shine that may be sharper or more intense than a twinkle.)
Antonyms
dull (Eyes that look dull have no light or liveliness and show no emotion, the opposite of twinkling eyes.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
|visual
|body
Definition
When a person’s eyes shine a little and quickly because they feel happy, amused, or kind.
Of a person’s eyes, to shine briefly and gently in a way that shows amusement, pleasure, or another emotion.
NOUN
B1
3
fényvillanás
B2
csillanás
B2
Usage pattern:
a twinkle of [light]
A single twinkle on the horizon told us another ship was out at sea.
Egyetlen fényvillanás a láthatáron elárulta, hogy egy másik hajó is kint van a tengeren.
There wasn’t a twinkle of starlight in the cloudy sky.
A felhős égen egyetlen csillanásnyi csillagfény sem látszott.
Only the occasional twinkle from a passing car broke the darkness.
She saw the twinkle of a candle through the window.
The first twinkle of dawn showed above the hills.
Learner examples
I saw a twinkle from a far house.
Egy fényvillanást láttam egy távoli ház felől.
There was not a twinkle of light in the room.
Egy csillanásnyi fény sem volt a szobában.
A small twinkle came from the phone screen.
We followed the twinkle of a lamp in the dark.
I watched the twinkle of stars over the city.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse "twinkle" for any light. A "twinkle" is usually small, brief, and often distant. For stronger or steady light, "shine" or "glow" is more natural.
Meaning
small brief flash of light
Collocations
a faint twinkle
|a distant twinkle
|the twinkle of stars
|a little twinkle
|a soft twinkle
Synonyms
glimmer (Often suggests a weak, unsteady light, not always as brief or point-like as a twinkle.)
|
sparkle (Can refer to a stronger or more continuous bright shining than a single twinkle.)
Antonyms
darkness (The complete absence of light, the opposite of even a small flash like a twinkle.)
Themes
nature
|visual
|science
Definition
A small, quick light that shines for a very short time, like a star far away.
A small, brief flash or flicker of light, especially from a distant or weak light source such as a star.
NOUN
B2
4
csillogás
B1
Usage pattern:
a twinkle in [someone]'s eye
He answered with a twinkle in his eye that made everyone laugh.
Olyan huncut csillogással a szemében válaszolt, hogy mindenki nevetni kezdett.
There was a mischievous twinkle in her eyes as she planned the surprise.
Huncut csillogás volt a szemében, miközben a meglepetést tervezte.
The old woman still had a bright twinkle in her eye when she spoke of her childhood.
I could see a proud twinkle in my mother’s eyes at the ceremony.
His kindly twinkle made the children feel safe.
Learner examples
The teacher had a twinkle in her eye.
A tanárnő szeme huncutul csillogott.
I saw a happy twinkle in his eyes.
Boldog csillogást láttam a szemében.
Grandpa spoke with a twinkle in his eye.
There was a small twinkle in her eyes when she smiled.
He looked at me with a warm twinkle in his eyes.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes translate directly from their language and say things like *"a light in his eyes"* when they want this fixed English phrase. The common English expression is "a twinkle in his/her eye."
Meaning
shining, expressive look in eyes
Collocations
a twinkle in his eye
|with a twinkle in her eye
|mischievous twinkle
|kindly twinkle
|a little twinkle
Synonyms
sparkle (Very similar, but can sound a bit stronger or more energetic than a gentle twinkle in the eyes.)
|
gleam (Can suggest a more intense or sometimes sharper look than the soft warmth of a twinkle.)
Antonyms
blank look (A face or eyes that show no feeling, the opposite of an expressive twinkle.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
|visual
|body
Definition
A small light in someone’s eyes that shows they feel happy, kind, or playful.
A brief, gentle shine or light in someone’s eyes that shows amusement, affection, mischief, or another warm emotion.
VERB
C1
LITERARY
5
repked
B2
fürgén mozog
B1
Usage pattern:
[body part] twinkles across/over [something]
Her feet twinkled across the stage in perfect time to the music.
Csak úgy repkedett a lába végig a színpadon, tökéletesen a zene ütemére.
The pianist’s fingers twinkled over the keys in a blur of motion.
A zongorista ujjai repkedtek a billentyűkön, szinte elmosódva a gyors mozgástól.
Tiny fish twinkled around the diver’s mask before darting away.
His toes twinkled in an effortless, playful dance.
Fireflies twinkled and darted above the grass, their movements too quick to follow.
Learner examples
Her feet twinkled across the floor.
A lába fürgén mozgott a padlón.
His fingers twinkled over the piano keys.
Ujjai repkedtek a zongorabillentyűkön.
The dancer’s toes twinkled in the bright light.
Tiny lights seemed to twinkle and move around us.
Small fish twinkled quickly around the boat.
Common mistake:
This use is quite literary. Learners may try to use it in everyday speech where more common verbs like "move fast," "dance," or "run" sound more natural.
Meaning
move quickly and lightly
Collocations
twinkling feet
|twinkling toes
|fingers twinkled
|twinkling across the floor
|toes twinkled
Synonyms
dart (Emphasizes sudden, fast movement from one place to another, not the many small light steps of a twinkle.)
|
dance (Often used generally for rhythmic movement; "twinkle" suggests something lighter and quicker.)
Antonyms
plod (Means to walk slowly and heavily, the opposite of light, quick twinkling movement.)
Themes
movement
|arts
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To move very fast and lightly, in many small, quick moves.
To move quickly and lightly with many small, rapid motions, so that the movement seems to flicker or dance.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
6
pillanat
A2
Usage pattern:
in a twinkle
The street emptied in a twinkle as the storm began.
Az utca egy szempillantás alatt kiürült, amikor kitört a vihar.
With that, he was gone in a twinkle.
Ezzel egy szempillantás alatt eltűnt.
The food disappeared in a twinkle once the guests arrived.
Her mood changed in a twinkle when she heard the news.
The quiet of the room vanished in a twinkle when the children burst in.
Learner examples
He finished the cake in a twinkle.
Egy pillanat alatt megette a tortát.
The people left the room in a twinkle.
Az emberek egy pillanat alatt elhagyták a szobát.
The cat ran away in a twinkle.
The shop was empty in a twinkle.
The smile came back in a twinkle.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to say *"for a twinkle"* to mean "for a short time." The usual phrase is "in a twinkle" or more commonly "in an instant" or "in a moment."
Meaning
very short moment of time
Collocations
in a twinkle
|gone in a twinkle
|vanish in a twinkle
Synonyms
instant (A neutral, everyday word for a very short moment; "twinkle" is more literary or old-fashioned.)
|
moment (Less strong about speed; "a twinkle" suggests an even shorter time.)
Antonyms
eternity (Suggests a very, very long time, the opposite of a brief twinkle.)
Themes
time
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A very short time, almost no time at all, often used in the phrase "in a twinkle."
A very short moment of time, used mainly in the phrase "in a twinkle" to mean almost immediately.
Grammar
Dictionary form
twinkle
IPA
GB/twˈɪŋkəl/
US/twˈɪŋkəl/
Syllables & stress
twinkle (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (twinkle)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: twinkle
- Plural: twinkles
Verb
- Base: twinkle
- 3rd Person Singular: twinkles
- Present Participle: twinkling
- Past: twinkled
Word family
Forms
twinkles
noun
twinkling
verb
twinkled
verb
Related words
twinkly
adjective
Expressions
a twinkle in someone's eye
1/ə twˈɪŋkəl ˈɪn sˈʌmwˌʌnz ˈaɪ/
idiom
not yet existing, only imagined
Used to say that someone or something did not exist yet at that time and was only an idea or hope.
Examples
- When they started the company, online shopping was just a twinkle in most people’s eye.
- Back then, you were just a twinkle in your parents’ eye.
- Electric cars were still a twinkle in engineers’ eyes when that law was written.
in the twinkling of an eye
1/ˈɪn ðə twˈɪŋklɪŋ əv ən ˈaɪ/
idiom
literary
very quickly, almost instantly
Used to say that something happens very fast, in a very short time.
Examples
- In the twinkling of an eye, the storm turned the quiet street into chaos.
- The opportunity can disappear in the twinkling of an eye if you are not ready.
- Children grow up in the twinkling of an eye.
with a twinkle in his eye
1/wˈɪθ ə twˈɪŋkəl ˈɪn hˈɪz ˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
with amused, shining eyes
Used to describe someone who speaks or acts in a warm or playful way, and whose eyes shine a little because they are amused or kind.
Examples
- "You know the answer already," he said with a twinkle in his eye.
- She warned us about the exam with a twinkle in her eye, so we knew she was joking.
- The old man told his stories with a twinkle in his eye.