A simple wooden altar covered with a white cloth. On the altar sits a golden chalice and a single lit candle, representing the religious service.

misa

MEE-sah

nounfA2

Mass?Catholic religious service

Also:service?religious ceremony

📝 In Action

Todos los domingos vamos a misa a las diez.

Every Sunday we go to Mass at ten o'clock.

La misa de medianoche se llama 'Misa de Gallo' en muchos países.

The midnight Mass is called 'Rooster's Mass' in many countries.

El sacerdote ofició la misa en la pequeña capilla del pueblo.

The priest officiated the service in the town's small chapel.

Word Connections

Synonyms

oficio religioso (religious service)

Common Collocations

ir a misa – to go to Mass
misa de difuntos – Requiem Mass (funeral mass)
oír misa – to attend Mass (literally: to hear Mass)

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Alert

Even though it ends in 'a,' remember that 'misa' is a feminine noun, so you use 'la misa' or 'una misa'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the wrong preposition

Mistake: "Vamos en misa."

Correction: Vamos a misa. Use the preposition 'a' (to) when talking about attending the service.

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal vs. Informal

While it refers to a specific Catholic ritual, you can use 'misa' generally to refer to any large, formal religious gathering in some contexts.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: misa

Question 1 of 2

Which phrase correctly means 'to go to Mass'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

misal(missal (prayer book)) - noun

eucaristía(Eucharist (communion)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'misa' only used for Catholic services?

Yes, 'misa' almost exclusively refers to the Catholic or Orthodox Eucharistic service. For other Christian services (like Protestant or Evangelical), people usually use the word 'servicio' or 'culto'.