Wedding in Spanish
Planning a wedding or just dreaming about one? This vocabulary set will help you talk all about 'la boda' in Spanish. From the happy couple to the ceremony itself, knowing these words is super useful for understanding Spanish-language wedding traditions or even just chatting about romance. It's interesting how Spanish uses reflexive verbs like 'casarse' (to get married) quite a bit!
Quick Reference
| Spanish | English | Example | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
boda | wedding | La boda es el sábado por la tarde. | A1 |
casado | married | Mi hermano mayor está casado con una doctora. | A1 |
casarse | to get married | Mi hermana se casa el próximo mes en la playa. | A1 |
comprometer | to jeopardize | No quiero comprometer mi reputación por un error tan pequeño. | B1 |
comprometido | committed | Es un líder muy comprometido con la justicia social. | B1 |
compromiso | commitment | Mi compromiso con este trabajo es total. | A2 |
enlace | link | Por favor, haz clic en el enlace para descargar el archivo. | A2 |
madrina | godmother | Mi madrina me compró un libro para mi cumpleaños. | A1 |
matrimonio | marriage | Su matrimonio duró más de cincuenta años. | A2 |
novio | boyfriend | Mi novio y yo vamos al cine esta noche. | A1 |
padrino | godfather | Mi padrino de bautizo es muy generoso. | A2 |
matrimonial | marital | He reservado una habitación con una cama matrimonial. | A2 |
A1 — Beginner (5 words)
wedding
“La boda es el sábado por la tarde.”
married
“Mi hermano mayor está casado con una doctora.”
to get married
“Mi hermana se casa el próximo mes en la playa.”
godmother
“Mi madrina me compró un libro para mi cumpleaños.”
boyfriend
“Mi novio y yo vamos al cine esta noche.”
A2 — Elementary (6 words)
commitment
“Mi compromiso con este trabajo es total.”
link
“Por favor, haz clic en el enlace para descargar el archivo.”
marriage
“Su matrimonio duró más de cincuenta años.”
godfather
“Mi padrino de bautizo es muy generoso.”
marital
“He reservado una habitación con una cama matrimonial.”
veil
“La novia eligió un velo de encaje muy largo.”
B1 — Intermediate (4 words)
to jeopardize
“No quiero comprometer mi reputación por un error tan pequeño.”
committed
“Es un líder muy comprometido con la justicia social.”
wedding
“Fuimos al casamiento de mi primo el sábado pasado.”
to marry
“El juez casó a la pareja en el ayuntamiento.”
Grammar Tips
Gender Agreement is Key
Many words related to weddings change endings based on gender and number. For example, 'comprometido' (engaged, masculine) becomes 'comprometida' (engaged, feminine). Always match the adjective or participle to the person it describes!
The Reflexive 'Se'
The verb 'casar' (to marry) often becomes 'casarse' (to get married) when talking about the couple. This reflexive form emphasizes that the action is done to oneself or reciprocally. 'Ellos van a casarse' means 'They are going to get married'.
Pluralizing 'Boda'
The word for wedding, 'boda', is feminine and follows standard pluralization rules. 'Una boda' becomes 'las bodas'. This is straightforward, but remember to keep adjectives and articles in agreement with the plural form.
Common Mistakes
Incorrect Verb Form
Mistake: “Yo voy a casar con mi novio.”
Correction: Yo voy a casarme con mi novio. — The verb 'casar' needs the reflexive pronoun 'me' when expressing 'to get married' for oneself.
Adjective Placement
Mistake: “La comprometida novia llegó.”
Correction: La novia comprometida llegó. — In Spanish, descriptive adjectives like 'comprometida' typically follow the noun they modify.
Plural Agreement
Mistake: “Las bodas fue muy bonita.”
Correction: Las bodas fueron muy bonitas. — Since 'bodas' is plural, the verb 'fue' must become 'fueron', and the adjective 'bonita' must become 'bonitas' to agree in number.
Cultural Notes
Godparents' Importance
In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the 'padrinos' (godparents, which can include the godmother 'madrina' and godfather 'padrino') play a very significant role, often not just in religious ceremonies but also financially and as mentors throughout the couple's life.
The 'Entourage'
While 'madrina' and 'padrino' are common, the wedding party can be quite extensive. It's not unusual to have multiple pairs of 'padrinos' for different aspects of the wedding, like the rings, the cake, or the flowers.