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How to Say "to baptize" in Spanish

English → Spanish

bautizar

bau-tee-sarbau̯tiˈθaɾ

verbA2religious ceremony
Use 'bautizar' when referring to the religious sacrament of baptism, typically for a person.
A priest gently pouring water over a baby's head over a stone font in a bright room.

Examples

Mañana van a bautizar a mi sobrino.

Tomorrow they are going to baptize my nephew.

Sus amigos lo bautizaron como 'El Flaco'.

His friends nicknamed him 'The Skinny One'.

El capitán bautizó el barco con una botella de champán.

The captain christened the ship with a bottle of champagne.

The 'Z' to 'C' Spelling Change

In Spanish, the letter 'z' usually changes to a 'c' before the letter 'e'. This is why the 'yo' form in the past is 'bauticé' and not 'bautizé'. It sounds the same, it's just a spelling rule!

Using 'a' with People

When you baptize a person, you must use the 'personal a'. For example: 'Bautizar a María' (to baptize Maria).

Spelling Error in Past Tense

Mistake: “Yo bautizé al bebé.”

Correction: Yo bauticé al bebé. Remember that 'z' becomes 'c' before 'e'.

ponerle

poh-NEHR-lehpoˈneɾle

Verb (Infinitive + Pronoun)B1religious context
Use 'ponerle' (often 'ponerle un nombre') when the focus is on giving a name to someone or something, which can sometimes occur in a religious context but is not the sacrament itself.
A heartwarming illustration of a parent holding a newborn baby and presenting a plain wooden heart above the baby, symbolizing the act of giving the baby a name.

Examples

Queremos ponerle un nombre original al nuevo perro.

We want to give an original name to the new dog (to it).

Si fuera niña, ¿qué nombre ibas a ponerle?

If it were a girl, what name were you going to give her?

Confusing 'bautizar' with 'ponerle un nombre'

Learners often confuse 'bautizar' with 'ponerle un nombre' because both involve naming. Remember that 'bautizar' specifically refers to the religious ceremony of baptism, while 'ponerle un nombre' simply means to give a name.

Related Translations

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