Inklingo

How to Say "believer" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cristiano

/krees-tee-AH-noh//krisˈtjano/

nounA1general
Use 'cristiano' when referring to someone who adheres to the Christian religion.
A kind-looking man with a simple blue tunic is kneeling with his hands pressed together in a gesture of prayer.

Examples

Mi abuelo es un cristiano devoto y va a misa todos los domingos.

My grandfather is a devout Christian and goes to mass every Sunday.

Los cristianos celebran la Resurrección en Pascua.

Christians celebrate the Resurrection at Easter.

The Feminine Form

To refer to a female follower, change the ending to 'cristiana' (e.g., 'Ella es una cristiana').

Capitalization

Mistake: “In Spanish, the noun referring to a follower (cristiano) is generally written with a lowercase 'c', unless it starts a sentence.”

Correction: Use 'cristiano' (lowercase) instead of 'Cristiano' (uppercase) in the middle of a sentence.

fiel

/fyél//fjel/

nounB2general
Use 'fiel' when referring to a follower or adherent, particularly in a religious context when addressing a congregation, or metaphorically for someone loyal to a cause.
A colorful storybook illustration of a person sitting peacefully with folded hands, representing a religious follower or believer.

Examples

El sacerdote se dirigió a los fieles.

The priest addressed the faithful (believers).

Era un fiel de la antigua tradición.

He was a follower of the old tradition.

Using 'Fiel' as a Noun

When used as a noun, 'fiel' refers to a person. It uses the articles 'el' (masculine person) or 'la' (feminine person), but the word itself does not change: 'el fiel' or 'la fiel'.

Cristianos vs. Fieles

Learners often use 'cristiano' when 'fiel' would be more appropriate for a general follower. Remember that 'cristiano' is specific to Christianity, while 'fiel' can refer to any devoted follower or adherent, especially when addressing a group.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.