santo
/sahn-toh/
holy
The adjective santo translates to 'holy,' describing something spiritually pure, often depicted with radiant light or purity.
📝 In Action
La Semana Santa es muy importante en España.
A1Holy Week is very important in Spain.
Dicen que ese lugar es tierra santa.
A2They say that place is holy land.
¡Qué santo día de trabajo hemos tenido!
B1What a colossal/huge day of work we've had!
💡 Grammar Points
Shortening Rule (Apócope)
When 'santo' is used before most singular masculine names, it shortens to 'San' (e.g., San Pedro, San Juan). The feminine form always stays 'Santa' (Santa Lucía).
Special Name Exceptions
Before masculine names starting with 'Do-' or 'To-,' the word remains 'Santo' (e.g., Santo Domingo, Santo Tomás). It also remains 'Santo' when used as a title after the noun (El Padre Santo).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Shortening
Mistake: "Visitamos el Santo Juan."
Correction: Visitamos San Juan. Remember to shorten 'santo' before almost all male saint names.
⭐ Usage Tips
Informal Usage
In informal Spanish, 'santo' can be used like an intensifier, meaning 'huge' or 'total' (e.g., 'el santo desorden' means 'the absolute mess').
As a noun, santo refers to a saint—a holy person recognized for their virtue.
santo(Noun)
saint
?a holy person
,patron saint
?protective figure
feast day
?when referring to 'su santo'
📝 In Action
Mi abuela siempre reza a su santo favorito.
A2My grandmother always prays to her favorite saint.
Hoy es mi santo, ¿me felicitas?
B1Today is my saint's day (name day), will you wish me well?
Los Reyes Magos también son conocidos como los Santos Reyes.
B2The Three Wise Men are also known as the Holy Kings (Saints).
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Plural
The masculine form is 'el santo' (the saint) and the plural is 'los santos.' The feminine is 'la santa' and 'las santas.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Santo' and 'Día de Reyes'
Mistake: "El 6 de enero es mi santo."
Correction: The 6th of January is Día de Reyes. Only use 'mi santo' to refer to your personal name day, which is the day dedicated to the saint you are named after.
⭐ Usage Tips
Name Day Tradition
In many Spanish-speaking countries, people celebrate their 'santo' (name day) instead of or in addition to their birthday. It's a day of celebration, much like a second birthday.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: santo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the short form of 'santo'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'santo' sometimes change to 'san'?
This is a historical change called 'apócope' where a word loses its final syllable. 'San' is used when the word comes immediately before most singular masculine proper names (like San Miguel), making the phrase flow better.
Is 'mi santo' related to my birthday?
'Mi santo' refers to your 'name day' (the feast day of the saint you were named after). While it's a day of celebration like a birthday, it is tied to the Catholic liturgical calendar, not your actual birth date.