Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Holy in Spanish: Santo
Santo · adjective · SAHN-toh
Santo is the primary Spanish adjective for holy. Sagrado (sacred) is a close synonym used in slightly different contexts. Santo shortens to San before most male saints' names.
SAHN-toh
La Semana Santa es una tradición importante.
Holy Week is an important tradition.
Holy in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for holy, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| santo | holy | SAHN-toh | Default, widely understood |
| sagrado | holy | sacred sense | |
| santa | holy | feminine |
How Native Speakers Use Santo
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Religious holiday
Durante la Semana Santa, muchas ciudades organizan procesiones.
During Holy Week, many cities organize processions.
Describing a major religious observance.
Sacred place
Jerusalén es una ciudad sagrada para tres religiones.
Jerusalem is a holy city for three religions.
Discussing religious significance.
Exclamation
¡Santo cielo! No esperaba verte aquí.
Holy heavens! I didn't expect to see you here.
Expressing surprise colloquially.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Santo
Using santo before all names
Incorrect: Vamos a la iglesia de Santo Pedro.
Correct: Vamos a la iglesia de San Pedro.
Santo shortens to San before most male names — exceptions include Santo Tomás and Santo Domingo.
Confusing santo and sagrado
Incorrect: El santo libro de la Biblia.
Correct: El sagrado libro de la Biblia. / La Santa Biblia.
Sagrado means sacred and is used for revered objects, while santo means holy and is more associated with saints and religious observances.
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See Santo used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Holy in Spanish
- How do you say 'holy' in Spanish?
- The word is santo (masculine) or santa (feminine), used for religious holiness and in expressions like Semana Santa (Holy Week).
- What is the difference between santo and sagrado?
- Santo refers to holiness connected to God or saints, while sagrado means sacred and applies to objects, places, or ideas that deserve deep reverence.
- When does santo shorten to San?
- Santo becomes San before most male saints' names — San José, San Juan, San Pablo — with a few exceptions like Santo Tomás and Santo Domingo.