altar
/ahl-TARR/
altar
A depiction of an altar, a raised religious structure.
altar(noun)
altar
?raised religious structure
shrine
?small devotional area
,communion table
?Christian context
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun
Even though 'altar' ends in 'r' (which can sometimes be feminine), it is always a masculine noun: 'el altar'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender confusion
Mistake: "La altar es grande."
Correction: El altar es grande. (It must take the masculine article 'el'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, 'altar' is frequently used in discussions about traditional celebrations, such as weddings or the Day of the Dead.
This image illustrates altar in the figurative sense of a shrine or place of absolute devotion.
altar(noun)
shrine
?place of absolute devotion or sacrifice (figurative)
pedestal
?metaphorical place of honor
📝 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.
⭐ Usage Tips
Metaphorical Use
When used figuratively, 'altar' often implies great devotion or, more commonly, a significant sacrifice made for a greater goal (e.g., sacrificing family time for work).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: altar
Question 1 of 1
¿Cuál de estas frases usa 'altar' en su sentido figurado?
📚 More Resources
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'.