cristiano
/krees-tee-AH-noh/
Christian
The cross is a symbol often related to being cristiano (Christian).
cristiano(adjective)
Christian
?related to Christianity
decent
?figurative: respectable, moral
,godly
?religious behavior
📝 In Action
La Navidad es la celebración más importante del calendario cristiano.
A1Christmas is the most important celebration in the Christian calendar.
Necesitamos tener un comportamiento más cristiano con los vecinos.
B1We need to have more decent/Christian behavior toward our neighbors.
El arte cristiano antiguo es fascinante.
A2Ancient Christian art is fascinating.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine/Feminine Agreement
Like most Spanish adjectives, 'cristiano' must change its ending to match the noun it describes. Use 'cristiana' for feminine nouns (e.g., 'cultura cristiana').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting Agreement
Mistake: "Hablamos de la fe cristiano."
Correction: Hablamos de la fe cristiana. ('Fe' is feminine, so the adjective must be 'cristiana'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Beyond Religion
Sometimes 'cristiano' is used figuratively to mean 'good,' 'moral,' or 'humane,' regardless of actual religious belief.
This image shows a cristiano (Christian), a male follower of Christ.
📝 In Action
Mi abuelo es un cristiano devoto y va a misa todos los domingos.
A2My grandfather is a devout Christian and goes to mass every Sunday.
Los cristianos celebran la Resurrección en Pascua.
A1Christians celebrate the Resurrection at Easter.
💡 Grammar Points
The Feminine Form
To refer to a female follower, change the ending to 'cristiana' (e.g., 'Ella es una cristiana').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Capitalization
Mistake: "In Spanish, the noun referring to a follower (cristiano) is generally written with a lowercase 'c', unless it starts a sentence."
Correction: Use 'cristiano' (lowercase) instead of 'Cristiano' (uppercase) in the middle of a sentence.
⭐ Usage Tips
Plural Form
The plural is simple: just add '-s' to get 'cristianos' (for mixed groups or groups of men) or 'cristianas' (for groups of women).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cristiano
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'cristiano' to describe a person, rather than a concept?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cristiano' capitalized in Spanish?
Generally, no. When referring to the religion or a follower, it is written in lowercase (cristiano). You only capitalize it if it is the first word of a sentence or part of a proper name.
How do I say 'Christianity'?
The religion itself is called 'el cristianismo' (the 'ism' suffix turns it into the name of the belief system).