católica
“católica” means “Catholic” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
Catholic
Also: universal
📝 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.
Catholic
📝 In Action
Ella es una católica practicante.
A2She is a practicing Catholic.
Como católica, ella celebra la Pascua.
B1As a Catholic, she celebrates Easter.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: católica
Question 1 of 2
How would you say 'the Catholic church' in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Greek word 'katholikos', which literally means 'universal' or 'general'. It passed through Latin as 'catholicus' before becoming the Spanish 'católica'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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.