limpia
/leem-pyah/
ritual cleanse
As a noun, 'limpia' can refer to a traditional or spiritual ritual cleanse.
limpia(noun)
ritual cleanse
?spiritual or traditional healing
,spiritual cleansing
?clearing negative energy
clean sweep
?rarely, in Mexico, referring to a complete removal/victory
📝 In Action
La curandera le hizo una limpia para quitarle el mal de ojo.
B2The healer performed a ritual cleanse on him to remove the evil eye.
Necesito una limpia en mi casa para que fluya la energía.
B1I need a spiritual cleansing in my house so the energy can flow.
💡 Grammar Points
Use of 'Limpia' vs. 'Limpieza'
While 'limpieza' is the standard, general word for 'cleaning' (e.g., 'la limpieza de la cocina'), 'limpia' often specifically refers to a spiritual or folkloric cleansing ritual, especially in Latin America.
⭐ Usage Tips
Cultural Context
When you hear 'limpia' used as a noun, think of traditional healing or spiritual work, not just scrubbing floors. If you mean regular cleaning, use 'limpieza'.
When used as a verb, 'limpia' means 'cleans' (3rd person singular present tense).
limpia(verb)
cleans
?3rd person singular present tense
,tidies up
?3rd person singular present tense
clean!
?2nd person tú command (informal)
📝 In Action
Mi hermano siempre limpia su cuarto antes de salir.
A1My brother always cleans his room before going out.
¡Limpia tu plato! No lo dejes ahí.
A2Clean your plate! Don't leave it there.
La máquina limpia el suelo automáticamente.
A1The machine cleans the floor automatically.
💡 Grammar Points
Regular -AR Verb
'Limpia' comes from the regular -AR verb 'limpiar.' This means its endings follow the most common pattern, making it easy to conjugate in all tenses.
Same Form, Two Uses
The form 'limpia' is used for two main things: 1) What 'he/she/it' does now ('Ella limpia'), and 2) Giving an informal command to 'tú' ('¡Limpia!').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Imperative Forms
Mistake: "Using 'limpia' when giving a formal command to 'usted' (e.g., 'Usted limpia la ventana')."
Correction: For formal commands, the verb changes slightly to 'limpie' (e.g., 'Usted, limpie la ventana').
As a feminine singular adjective, 'limpia' means 'clean'.
limpia(adjective)
clean
?feminine singular
,spotless
?feminine singular
clear
?e.g., a clean slate
📝 In Action
La mesa está limpia, puedes poner los platos.
A1The table is clean, you can put the plates down.
Ella tiene una reputación limpia en la comunidad.
B1She has a clean reputation in the community.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement with Nouns
As an adjective, 'limpia' must match the gender and number of the noun it describes. Use 'limpia' for feminine singular nouns (e.g., 'la camisa limpia') and 'limpio' for masculine singular nouns.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: limpia
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'limpia' as a noun (a ritual) rather than a verb or adjective?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How is 'limpia' different from 'limpieza'?
'Limpieza' is the standard, general noun for 'cleaning' or 'cleanliness' (e.g., the act of scrubbing). 'Limpia' is the verb form (he/she cleans) or, when used as a noun, usually refers specifically to a spiritual or folkloric cleansing ritual.
Is 'limpia' the same as the English word 'limpid'?
They share the same Latin root *limpidus*, meaning clear or transparent. While 'limpid' in English still means clear (usually referring to water or style), the Spanish word 'limpia' evolved to mean clean or free of dirt.