reverendo
/reh-veh-REN-doh/
reverend
Reverendo as a noun refers to a clergyman or minister.
reverendo(Noun)
reverend
?clergyman or minister
,cleric
?general term for religious official
minister
?protestant clergy
📝 In Action
El reverendo dio un sermón sobre la caridad.
B1The reverend gave a sermon about charity.
Hablé con el reverendo sobre mis dudas de fe.
B2I spoke with the clergyman about my doubts regarding faith.
💡 Grammar Points
Title vs. Noun
When used as a noun (meaning 'the person'), you always need an article (like 'el' or 'un') before it, just like saying 'the doctor' or 'a teacher'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender Agreement
Mistake: "La reverendo ofició la boda."
Correction: La reverenda ofició la boda. (If referring to a female minister, the noun must be feminine: 'la reverenda'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
A Formal Word
While 'reverendo' is understood everywhere, in many contexts, especially Catholic ones, 'padre' or 'sacerdote' are more common ways to refer to a priest.
When used as an adjective, reverendo functions as a formal title of respect for a member of the clergy.
📝 In Action
Conocimos al reverendo Smith en la iglesia.
B2We met Reverend Smith at the church.
Su eminencia, el reverendo Obispo, llegó tarde.
C1His eminence, the Reverend Bishop, arrived late.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement
As an adjective used as a title, 'reverendo' must agree in gender with the person it describes. Use 'reverenda' for women.
⭐ Usage Tips
Capitalization
Unlike English, Spanish generally does not capitalize titles like 'reverendo' unless it begins a sentence.
Reverendo can also mean venerable, signifying someone worthy of profound respect due to age, character, or wisdom.
reverendo(Adjective)
venerable
?worthy of profound respect
,reverent
?showing deep respect
respectable
?a high degree of respect
📝 In Action
El templo era un lugar reverendo y silencioso.
C1The temple was a venerable and silent place.
Sus palabras tenían un tono reverendo que inspiraba calma.
C2His words had a reverent tone that inspired calm.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement
As a descriptive adjective, 'reverendo' must match the noun it describes in number (singular/plural) and gender (masculine/feminine). For example: 'costumbres reverendas' (venerable customs).
⭐ Usage Tips
Literary Use
This meaning is usually found in books, historical documents, or very formal speeches. It is rare in casual conversation.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: reverendo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'reverendo' as a title, not just a description?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'reverendo' only used for Christian clergy?
While most commonly associated with Christian priests or ministers, particularly Protestant denominations, it can sometimes be used formally to refer to highly respected religious figures in other faiths, though this is less common.
Is 'reverendo' a common everyday word?
'Reverendo' is a formal word. You will hear it in news reports, religious services, or when addressing clergy directly. If you want to talk about a priest casually in Spanish, you might use 'padre' or 'cura' instead.