Inklingo

How to Say "saint" in Spanish

English → Spanish

san

/sahn//san/

adjectiveA2formal
Use 'san' as a title before the name of a male holy person or a place named after one.
A peaceful, simply drawn figure wearing robes, standing calmly with a bright, glowing golden halo floating above their head.

Examples

El apóstol Santiago es un san muy importante en España.

The apostle Saint James is a very important saint in Spain.

La capital de Puerto Rico es San Juan.

The capital of Puerto Rico is Saint John.

Mi perro se llama San Francisco, o Pancho para abreviar.

My dog is named Saint Francis, or Pancho for short.

El desfile del Día de San Patricio es muy popular.

The Saint Patrick's Day parade is very popular.

The Short Form of 'Santo'

'San' is just a shorter, more common way to say 'santo' (saint) right before a man's name. Think of it like 'St.' in English.

The 'To-' and 'Do-' Exception

Mistake: “La iglesia de San Tomás.”

Correction: La iglesia de Santo Tomás. For names that start with 'To-' or 'Do-', you must use the full word 'santo', not the short version 'san'.

santo

/sahn-toh//ˈsan.to/

nounB1formal
Use 'santo' when referring to a holy person, often in the context of religious devotion or veneration.
A peaceful figure wearing a simple brown robe, kneeling gently with hands clasped in prayer, illuminated by a faint golden halo.

Examples

Cada santo tiene su día en el calendario.

Each saint has their day on the calendar.

Mi abuela siempre reza a su santo favorito.

My grandmother always prays to her favorite saint.

Hoy es mi santo, ¿me felicitas?

Today is my saint's day (name day), will you wish me well?

Los Reyes Magos también son conocidos como los Santos Reyes.

The Three Wise Men are also known as the Holy Kings (Saints).

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.'

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.

bendita

/ben-DEE-tah//benˈdita/

nounB1informal
Use 'bendita' informally to describe a woman who is exceptionally kind, patient, or good-natured, often with a touch of admiration.
A kind woman smiling and handing a warm bowl of soup to a small bird.

Examples

Mi vecina siempre me ayuda con las bolsas; es una bendita.

My neighbor always helps me with my bags; she's a saint.

Mi abuela es una bendita; nunca dice nada malo de nadie.

My grandmother is a saint; she never says anything bad about anyone.

Nouns and People

When used as a noun, it almost always refers to a woman who is perceived as innocent, extremely patient, or very kind.

Confusing 'san' and 'santo'

The most common mistake is using 'santo' as a title before a name, like 'Santo Pedro'. Remember that 'san' is the title used before male saints' names (San Juan, San Pedro), while 'santo' is the noun referring to the holy person themselves.

Related Translations

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