How to Say "spiritual" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “spiritual” is “espiritual” — use 'espiritual' when referring to a general connection to one's inner self, soul, or a non-physical aspect of life, not necessarily tied to organized religion.
Use 'espiritual' when referring to a general connection to one's inner self, soul, or a non-physical aspect of life, not necessarily tied to organized religion.
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Choose 'religioso' when the spiritual aspect is directly related to a specific religion, deity, or religious practices.
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Use 'místico' for spiritual experiences or qualities that are mysterious, transcendent, and often beyond ordinary understanding, suggesting a deeper, more esoteric connection.
Learn more →es-pee-ree-TOO-ahlespiɾiˈtwal
Examples
Ella busca una conexión más espiritual con la naturaleza.
She is looking for a more spiritual connection with nature.
El yoga es un ejercicio físico y espiritual.
Yoga is a physical and spiritual exercise.
Necesito tiempo para mi crecimiento espiritual.
I need time for my spiritual growth.
Adjective Form
The word 'espiritual' is the same whether you are describing a masculine or a feminine noun. You don't need to change the ending: 'un libro espiritual' (a spiritual book) and 'una paz espiritual' (a spiritual peace).
Pronunciation Stress
Mistake: “Misplacing the stress on the third syllable: 'es-PI-ri-tual'.”
Correction: The stress is on the last syllable, 'tual': es-pi-ri-TUAL. Remember, words ending in 'l' usually have the stress on the final syllable.
reh-lee-hee-OH-sohre.liˈxjo.so
Examples
Ella es una persona muy religiosa y va a la iglesia los domingos.
She is a very religious person and goes to church on Sundays.
La Semana Santa es un evento religioso importante en España.
Holy Week is an important religious event in Spain.
Matching the Person
This word must match the gender of the person or thing you are talking about. Use 'religioso' for masculine words (el niño) and 'religiosa' for feminine words (la niña).
Word Order
Mistake: “Un religioso evento.”
Correction: Un evento religioso.
MEE-stee-kohˈmistiko
Examples
Esa montaña tiene un aura mística muy especial.
That mountain has a very special mystical aura.
El autor escribió una serie de poemas místicos sobre la paz.
The author wrote a series of mystical poems about peace.
Muchos dicen que tuvo una experiencia mística en el bosque.
Many say he had a mystical experience in the forest.
Adjective Agreement
Remember that this word must match the gender of the object it describes. Use 'místico' for masculine things and 'mística' for feminine things.
Positioning
This describing word usually comes after the noun (the thing) it describes, like 'un momento místico'.
Mistaking 'Místico' for 'Misterioso'
Mistake: “Using místico for a simple crime mystery.”
Correction: Use 'misterioso' for secrets or unknowns, and 'místico' only for spiritual or religious depths.
Espiritual vs. Religioso
Learners often confuse 'espiritual' and 'religioso'. Remember that 'religioso' specifically implies a connection to organized religion or a deity, while 'espiritual' is broader and can refer to inner life or non-physical connections without religious context.
Related Translations
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