santa
/SAHN-tah/
holy
The adjective santa can mean holy or sacred.
📝 In Action
La Semana Santa es una celebración importante en muchos países.
A2Holy Week is an important celebration in many countries.
Ella lleva una vida muy santa, dedicada a la caridad.
B1She leads a very saintly life, dedicated to charity.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Agreement
Since 'santa' is the feminine form, remember to only use it when describing feminine nouns (like 'mujer' or 'fiesta'). For masculine nouns, you must use 'santo' (e.g., 'santo día').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Genders
Mistake: "El semana santa (The noun 'semana' is feminine)."
Correction: La Semana Santa (Always match the ending: 'la' and 'semana' are feminine, so 'santa' is too.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Adjective Placement
When used to mean 'holy' or 'sacred,' 'santa' usually goes after the noun (e.g., 'agua santa'), but for titles or specific holidays, it often goes before (e.g., 'Santa Cena').
As a noun, santa refers to a female saint.
📝 In Action
La patrona de la ciudad es Santa Cecilia.
A2The city's patron saint is Saint Cecilia.
Mi madre es una santa, ¡tiene una paciencia infinita!
B2My mother is a saint (a wonderful, patient person), she has infinite patience!
💡 Grammar Points
Title Usage
When 'Santa' is used before a name (e.g., Santa Ana or Santa Bárbara), it functions as an honorific title, similar to 'Saint' in English.
⭐ Usage Tips
Capitalization
When referring to a specific recognized figure, 'Santa' is usually capitalized, much like a person’s name.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: santa
Question 1 of 1
¿En cuál frase 'santa' funciona como un sustantivo (una cosa o persona)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'santo' y 'santa'?
'Santo' is the form used for masculine words (el santo, santo aire). 'Santa' is the form used for feminine words (la santa, santa misa). They mean exactly the same thing but must match the gender of the word they modify.
¿Por qué se usa a veces 'San' en lugar de 'Santo'?
When 'santo' is used before a male saint’s name, it shortens to 'San' (e.g., San Juan, San Pedro). The feminine form 'Santa' never changes and is always used before a female saint's name (e.g., Santa Ana).