católica
/ka-TO-lee-kah/
Catholic
A traditional church with a cross represents the Catholic faith.
católica(adjective)
Catholic
?religious description
universal
?original/formal meaning of encompassing everything
📝 In Action
La iglesia católica es muy antigua.
A1The Catholic church is very old.
Ella viene de una familia católica.
A2She comes from a Catholic family.
Tiene una educación muy católica.
B1She has a very Catholic upbringing.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the word it describes
Since this word ends in 'a', it must be used with feminine words like 'mujer' (woman) or 'escuela' (school). If you are describing a man or a masculine word, you would use 'católico' instead.
Lowercase for religions
In Spanish, words describing religions (like católica) are usually written in lowercase, unlike in English where 'Catholic' is always capitalized.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Capitalization Slip-up
Mistake: "Soy Católica."
Correction: Soy católica.
⭐ Usage Tips
Cultural Context
In many Spanish-speaking countries, 'católica' is used not just for church-goers, but to describe cultural traditions and holidays.
The word 'católica' can refer to a woman who practices the Catholic faith.
📝 In Action
Ella es una católica practicante.
A2She is a practicing Catholic.
Como católica, ella celebra la Pascua.
B1As a Catholic, she celebrates Easter.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Una' with Nouns
When using 'católica' as a person's identity (a noun), you often use 'una' before it if you are adding an extra describing word, like 'una católica devota'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: católica
Question 1 of 2
How would you say 'the Catholic church' in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'católica' to describe a man?
No. In Spanish, you must change the ending to match the person's gender. Use 'católico' for a man and 'católica' for a woman.
Does 'católica' always mean religious?
While 99% of the time it refers to the Roman Catholic Church, its ancient root means 'universal.' In very formal or poetic contexts, it can still mean 'encompassing everything,' but you'll mostly hear it for religion.