funeral
/foo-neh-RAHL/
funeral
The noun funeral refers to the ceremony or service held for the deceased.
📝 In Action
El funeral se celebrará en la iglesia principal.
A1The funeral will be held in the main church.
Llevaba ropa negra para asistir al funeral.
A2She wore black clothes to attend the funeral.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun
Remember that 'funeral' is always masculine in Spanish, even though it ends in 'L'. You must use the masculine article: 'el funeral'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Wrong Article
Mistake: "La funeral."
Correction: El funeral. (The ceremony is masculine in Spanish.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Informal
While 'funeral' is the most common word, 'entierro' (burial) specifies the act of putting the body in the ground, and 'velorio' (wake) is the viewing held before the service.
As an adjective, funeral describes something relating to the ceremony, such as the formal attire worn.
📝 In Action
Los gastos funerales fueron muy altos.
B1The funeral expenses were very high.
La procesión funeral pasó por la calle principal.
B2The funeral procession passed down the main street.
💡 Grammar Points
Invariable Adjective
When used as an adjective, 'funeral' always keeps its '-al' ending, whether it describes a masculine ('gastos funerales') or feminine ('procesión funeral') noun.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Noun and Adjective
Mistake: "Compramos la casa funeral."
Correction: Compramos la casa fúnebre. (Using the adjective 'fúnebre' is much more natural when describing things associated with death.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Use 'fúnebre' instead
While grammatically correct, using the adjective 'funeral' often sounds stiff or formal. Spanish speakers usually prefer the related adjective 'fúnebre' (e.g., 'carroza fúnebre' for hearse) for describing funeral-related items.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: funeral
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'funeral' as a noun?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'funeral' and 'entierro'?
'Funeral' refers to the entire service or ceremony. 'Entierro' specifically means the burial, the act of putting the body into the ground. A funeral often includes the burial, but the words are not interchangeable.
Why is 'fúnebre' sometimes used instead of 'funeral'?
'Fúnebre' is a more common and natural adjective in Spanish that means 'funereal' or 'somber,' and is often preferred to describe objects or moods associated with death (e.g., 'música fúnebre' - sad, somber music).