Inklingo

How to Say "piety" in Spanish

English → Spanish

devoción

nounB1general
Use 'devoción' when referring to a strong feeling of love, loyalty, or commitment, which can be religious or secular, like devotion to one's work or family.

Examples

Tiene una gran devoción por su trabajo.

She has a great devotion to her work.

piedad

pee-eh-DAHDpjeˈðað

nounC1general
Choose 'piedad' when specifically talking about deep religious reverence, devoutness, and faithfulness, often involving 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.

Confusing Religious vs. General Devotion

Learners often mistakenly use 'piedad' for any kind of strong dedication. Remember that 'piedad' is strictly for religious contexts, while 'devoción' is much more versatile and can describe intense commitment to non-religious pursuits as well.

Related Translations

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