A cheerful illustration of a bride in a white dress and a groom in a suit holding hands, standing under a simple floral arch, symbolizing a wedding ceremony.

boda

/BO-da/

wedding?The ceremony or celebration of a marriage.

Also:nuptials?A more formal term for a wedding.,marriage?Only when referring to the event itself, not the state of being married.

📝 In Action

La boda es el sábado por la tarde.

The wedding is on Saturday afternoon.

Fuimos a la boda de mi prima en México.

We went to my cousin's wedding in Mexico.

Están planeando una boda muy grande con más de doscientos invitados.

They are planning a very big wedding with more than two hundred guests.

La pareja celebró sus bodas de plata con una fiesta familiar.

The couple celebrated their silver wedding anniversary with a family party.

Word Connections

Synonyms

casamiento (wedding (more common in some regions))
matrimonio (marriage (can mean the ceremony or the state))
enlace (union, wedding (more formal))

Antonyms

divorcio (divorce)

Common Collocations

vestido de boda – wedding dress
tarta de boda – wedding cake
anillo de boda – wedding ring
boda civil – civil ceremony / courthouse wedding
boda religiosa – religious wedding
lista de bodas – wedding registry

Idioms & Expressions

ir de boda – To go to a wedding, to attend a wedding.
una boda por todo lo alto – A lavish, grand, or spectacular wedding.
De una boda sale otra boda. – A saying meaning that weddings often inspire other couples to get married.

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

Remember that 'boda' is a feminine word. So, you'll always say 'la boda' (the wedding) or 'una boda' (a wedding).

❌ Common Pitfalls

'Boda' vs. 'Matrimonio'

Mistake: "'Boda' describes the event, the party. 'Matrimonio' usually describes the state of being married. So, you wouldn't say: 'Ellos tienen una boda de 20 años.'"

Correction: Instead, say: 'Ellos tienen un matrimonio de 20 años.' (They have a 20-year marriage.) Use 'boda' for the day itself: 'Su boda fue hace 20 años.' (Their wedding was 20 years ago.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Talking About Anniversaries

To talk about a wedding anniversary, you can say 'aniversario de bodas'. For special milestones, Spanish uses 'bodas de...' plus a material, like 'bodas de plata' (silver anniversary, 25 years) and 'bodas de oro' (golden anniversary, 50 years).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: boda

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly describes a couple who has been married for a long time?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

casarse(to get married) - verb

casado/a(married) - adjective

novio/a(groom/bride (at the wedding); fiancé/fiancée) - noun

recién casados(newlyweds) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'boda' and 'casamiento'?

'Boda' is the most common and universally understood word for 'wedding' in Spanish. 'Casamiento' means the same thing but is used more frequently in certain countries, like Argentina and Uruguay. If you're not sure which to use, 'boda' is always a safe bet.

How do I say 'wedding anniversary'?

The most direct translation is 'aniversario de bodas'. You'll also hear people refer to special anniversaries like the 25th as 'las bodas de plata' (the silver wedding) and the 50th as 'las bodas de oro' (the golden wedding).