ritual
/rree-TOO-ahl/
ritual
A fixed ceremony or sequence of actions is a ritual (noun).
ritual(noun)
ritual
?fixed ceremony or sequence of actions
,routine
?personal habit
rite
?religious ceremony
📝 In Action
El té de la tarde es un ritual que sigo todos los días.
A2Afternoon tea is a ritual that I follow every day.
El sacerdote ofició el antiguo ritual de la cosecha.
B1The priest conducted the ancient harvest ritual.
Los rituales funerarios varían mucho entre culturas.
B2Funeral rituals vary greatly among cultures.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Masculine
Even though it ends in '-al,' 'ritual' is always a masculine noun. Make sure to use 'el ritual' or 'un ritual'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender Error
Mistake: "La ritual"
Correction: El ritual. Remember that many words ending in '-al' are masculine in Spanish.
⭐ Usage Tips
Personal vs. Formal Use
You can use 'ritual' for serious ceremonies (religious or historical) but also for common, everyday habits, like 'mi ritual de la mañana' (my morning routine).
Something relating to a rite is described as ritual (adjective).
📝 In Action
Llevaban vestimentas rituales para la celebración.
B2They wore ritual garments for the celebration.
El sacrificio ritual era una parte clave de su cultura.
C1The ritual sacrifice was a key part of their culture.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
As an adjective, 'ritual' needs to match the noun it describes. For plural nouns, it becomes 'rituales' (e.g., 'danzas rituales').
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Context
This adjective is usually reserved for formal or historical topics, such as religion, history, or anthropology.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ritual
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'ritual' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'ritual' a common word in daily Spanish?
Yes, absolutely! While it can describe ancient ceremonies, it is also frequently used in everyday conversation to talk about personal routines, like 'mi ritual de café' (my coffee routine).
Does 'ritual' change its form?
As a noun, it only changes to plural: 'rituales.' When it acts as an adjective (describing another noun), it also changes to plural to match: 'danzas rituales.'