Inklingo

How to Say "devotion" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “devotion” is “dedicación” — use 'dedicación' to express strong commitment and hard work towards a task, job, or goal, emphasizing the effort put in.

dedicaciónB1

Use 'dedicación' to express strong commitment and hard work towards a task, job, or goal, emphasizing the effort put in.

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devociónB1

Choose 'devoción' when referring to deep love, loyalty, or strong emotional attachment, especially towards people, activities, or abstract concepts.

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lealtad🔊B1

Use 'lealtad' specifically for deep commitment and faithfulness, most commonly used to describe loyalty between people or towards a group or cause.

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piedad🔊C1

Employ 'piedad' exclusively for deep religious commitment, piety, and devotion to God or religious practices.

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religiónC1

Use 'religión' metaphorically to describe an intense, almost religious-level commitment or passion for something non-religious, like a sport or hobby.

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English → Spanish

dedicación

nounB1general
Use 'dedicación' to express strong commitment and hard work towards a task, job, or goal, emphasizing the effort put in.

Examples

Ella trabaja con mucha dedicación.

She works with a lot of dedication.

devoción

nounB1general
Choose 'devoción' when referring to deep love, loyalty, or strong emotional attachment, especially towards people, activities, or abstract concepts.

Examples

Tiene una gran devoción por su trabajo.

She has a great devotion to her work.

lealtad

lay-ahl-TAHDle.alˈtað

nounB1general
Use 'lealtad' specifically for deep commitment and faithfulness, most commonly used to describe loyalty between people or towards a group or cause.
A brightly colored illustration showing a small child holding hands with a large, friendly brown dog. They are walking together on a sunny green path, symbolizing the bond of loyalty and faithfulness.

Examples

La lealtad de un perro a su dueño es asombrosa.

A dog's loyalty to its owner is amazing.

Puso a prueba su lealtad al pedirle que guardara el secreto.

He tested her loyalty by asking her to keep the secret.

Jurar lealtad a la bandera es un acto solemne.

To swear allegiance to the flag is a solemn act.

Always Feminine

Remember that 'lealtad' is a feminine noun, so you must always use the feminine articles: 'la lealtad' or 'una lealtad'.

Using 'de' instead of 'a'

Mistake: “Lealtad de la empresa.”

Correction: Lealtad a la empresa. (Loyalty to the company). Spanish generally uses the preposition 'a' (to) when specifying the target of the loyalty.

piedad

pee-eh-DAHDpjeˈðað

nounC1religious
Employ 'piedad' exclusively for deep religious commitment, piety, and devotion to God or religious practices.
A solitary person kneeling on the ground with their hands pressed together and eyes closed in a gesture of deep reverence and prayer.

Examples

La abuela era conocida por su profunda piedad y asistencia diaria a misa.

The grandmother was known for her deep piety and daily attendance at mass.

El cuadro representa las siete obras de piedad.

The painting represents the seven acts of piety (or 'works of mercy').

Historical Meaning

Historically, 'piedad' also meant 'dutifulness' or 'reverence' toward one's parents or gods, which is where both the compassion and religious meanings come from.

religión

nounC1figurative
Use 'religión' metaphorically to describe an intense, almost religious-level commitment or passion for something non-religious, like a sport or hobby.

Examples

Para muchos aficionados, el fútbol es una religión.

For many fans, football (soccer) is a religion.

Confusing 'Dedicación' and 'Devoción'

Learners often confuse 'dedicación' and 'devoción'. Remember that 'dedicación' emphasizes hard work and effort towards a goal, while 'devoción' highlights deep love and emotional attachment. Think of 'dedicación' as action and 'devoción' as feeling.

Related Translations

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