Inklingo

How to Say "friar" in Spanish

English → Spanish

monje

/MON-heh//ˈmoŋxe/

nounA2general
Use 'monje' for a member of a monastic order, especially one living in a monastery and dedicated to prayer, contemplation, and a life of seclusion, common in orders like Benedictines or Cistercians.
A man in a simple brown hooded robe standing peacefully in a stone courtyard.

Examples

El monje dedica su vida a la oración y el silencio.

The monk dedicates his life to prayer and silence.

Vimos a un monje budista caminando por el templo.

We saw a Buddhist monk walking through the temple.

En la Edad Media, los monjes escribían libros a mano.

In the Middle Ages, monks used to write books by hand.

Gender and religious roles

Spanish uses 'monje' for a man. If you are talking about a woman, you must use the word 'monja' (nun).

Monje vs. Cura

Mistake: “Using 'monje' to describe a local priest.”

Correction: Use 'cura' or 'sacerdote' for a priest who works in a parish church. A 'monje' usually lives in a monastery.

religioso

/reh-lee-hee-OH-soh//re.liˈxjo.so/

nounB1general
Use 'religioso' as a broader term for any member of a religious order, particularly those who engage in active ministry or charitable work in the community, such as mendicant orders like Franciscans or Dominicans.
A man wearing a simple brown robe walking through a stone courtyard.

Examples

El religioso dedicó su vida a ayudar a los pobres.

The friar dedicated his life to helping the poor.

Monje vs. Religioso

Learners often confuse 'monje' and 'religioso'. Remember that 'monje' specifically refers to monks in cloistered orders focused on prayer, while 'religioso' is a more general term that includes friars actively involved in serving the community.

Related Translations

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