rezar
/reh-SAHR/
to pray
The primary meaning of rezar is to pray or communicate with a deity.
rezar(verb)
to pray
?communicating with a deity
,to say prayers
?reciting formal words
to beg/plead (figurative)
?asking desperately
📝 In Action
Todos los domingos, mi abuela va a la iglesia a rezar el rosario.
A1Every Sunday, my grandmother goes to church to pray the rosary.
Cuando estoy nervioso, siempre rezo un poco para calmarme.
A2When I'm nervous, I always pray a little bit to calm myself down.
Recé para que el examen no fuera demasiado difícil.
B1I prayed that the exam wouldn't be too difficult.
💡 Grammar Points
Spelling Change for Z
Because the letter 'z' cannot appear before 'e' or 'i' in Spanish, it changes to 'c' in the preterite 'yo' form (recé) and throughout the entire present subjunctive (rece, recemos, etc.). This keeps the original 's' sound.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Rezar vs. Orar
Mistake: "Using 'rezar' for private, unstructured conversation with God."
Correction: Use 'rezar' for reciting formal, memorized prayers (like the Lord's Prayer). Use 'orar' for personal, spontaneous communication or meditation. Both mean 'to pray,' but 'rezar' is more about recitation.
⭐ Usage Tips
Direct Object
You often use 'rezar' followed directly by what you are reciting: 'rezar una oración' (to say a prayer) or 'rezar el Padre Nuestro' (to say the Our Father).
In informal contexts, rezar can mean to drone on or speak in a monotonous, repetitive way.
rezar(verb)
to drone on
?speaking repetitively or boringly
,to recite monotonously
?reading a list or text without expression
to repeat like a mantra
?endless repetition
📝 In Action
El profesor rezó la lista de reglas al inicio de cada clase.
B2The professor droned on about the list of rules at the start of every class.
El abogado rezó los artículos de la ley sin ninguna emoción.
C1The lawyer recited the articles of the law without any emotion.
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Use
Use this meaning when you want to emphasize that someone is repeating something (like a set of instructions or a poem) mechanically, without genuine feeling or variation in tone.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: rezar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'rezar' in its primary, religious sense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'rezar' the same as 'orar'?
They both mean 'to pray,' but 'rezar' usually implies reciting fixed, formal prayers (like a set ritual). 'Orar' is generally used for personal, unstructured communication, meditation, or spontaneous thoughts directed toward a deity.
Is 'rezar' a difficult verb to conjugate?
No, it is a regular -AR verb. The only slight challenge is remembering the spelling change (z to c) in the preterite 'yo' form and in all the subjunctive forms (recé, rece, recemos, etc.).