Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Cemetery in Spanish
Cementerio · noun · seh-mehn-TEH-ree-oh
The Spanish word for cemetery is 'cementerio,' a masculine noun closely related to its English cognate. In Mexico, the word 'panteón' is commonly used instead. Cemeteries hold deep cultural significance across the Spanish-speaking world, particularly during traditions like Día de los Muertos.
Cementerio is pronounced seh-mehn-TEH-ree-oh. The stress falls on the fourth syllable, and the word has five syllables in total.
Visitamos el cementerio para llevar flores a mis abuelos.
We visited the cemetery to bring flowers to my grandparents.
cemetery in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for cemetery, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| cementerio | cemetery | seh-mehn-TEH-ree-oh | Default, widely understood |
| camposanto | cemetery | literary or traditional term, meaning 'holy field' | |
| panteón | cemetery | Mexico |
How Native Speakers Use Cementerio
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Family visit
Cada domingo, mi abuela va al cementerio a visitar a su esposo.
Every Sunday, my grandmother goes to the cemetery to visit her husband.
Regular cemetery visits are common in Hispanic families.
Mexican usage
El panteón estaba lleno de flores para el Día de los Muertos.
The cemetery was full of flowers for the Day of the Dead.
Panteón is the preferred word in Mexico.
Historical site
El cementerio colonial tiene tumbas de más de trescientos años.
The colonial cemetery has tombs over three hundred years old.
Describing a historical cemetery.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Cementerio
Spelling error
Incorrect: Fuimos al cementario ayer.
Correct: Fuimos al cementerio ayer.
The correct spelling is 'cementerio' with an 'e' in the fourth syllable, not 'cementario.' It comes from the Greek 'koimeterion,' not from 'cemento.'
Confusing panteón meanings
Incorrect: Visitamos el panteón de los dioses griegos. (meaning cemetery)
Correct: Visitamos el cementerio. / Visitamos el panteón.
Panteón can mean both a cemetery (in Mexico) and a temple dedicated to gods (like the Pantheon in Rome). Context makes the meaning clear.
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Common Questions About cemetery in Spanish
- Why do Mexicans say panteón instead of cementerio?
- Panteón became the preferred word in Mexico through historical usage and is so deeply embedded in Mexican Spanish that it is the default term, while cementerio is still understood but sounds more formal.
- How do you say 'grave' or 'tomb' in Spanish?
- A grave is 'tumba' and a tomb is 'sepulcro' in Spanish, with 'tumba' being the more common everyday word used by most speakers.
- Is cementerio masculine or feminine?
- Cementerio is a masculine noun that takes the article 'el' — 'el cementerio,' never 'la cementerio.'