altar
“altar” means “altar” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
altar
Also: shrine, communion table
📝 In Action
El sacerdote se acercó al altar para oficiar la misa.
A2The priest approached the altar to officiate the mass.
En México, la gente construye altares de muertos en noviembre.
B1In Mexico, people build altars for the dead in November.
La iglesia tiene un hermoso altar tallado en madera antigua.
B1The church has a beautiful altar carved from antique wood.
shrine
Also: pedestal
📝 In Action
Puso su ambición en el altar de su carrera.
B2He placed his ambition on the altar (i.e., sacrificed it for) his career.
Para muchos, el deporte es un nuevo altar al que rinden culto.
C1For many, sport is a new shrine (or altar) they worship at.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: altar
Question 1 of 1
¿Cuál de estas frases usa 'altar' en su sentido figurado?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *altare*, meaning 'a high place' or 'a raised structure for sacrifice.' This original meaning of being elevated still applies to the structure today.
First recorded: Around the 10th century in Old Spanish.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
¿Es 'altar' solo para la iglesia católica?
No. While it is very common in Catholic contexts, 'altar' simply means a sacred raised structure for offerings or rites. It is used in many different religious and spiritual traditions, as well as in cultural practices like the Day of the Dead.
¿Cómo recuerdo que 'altar' es masculino?
Think of the masculine word 'el alto' (the height or high point). Since an altar is a raised structure, you can associate it with the masculine form 'el' to remember 'el altar'.