Spanish vocabulary · Intermediate
How to Say Lent in Spanish: Cuaresma
Cuaresma · noun (feminine) · kwah-REHS-mah
Lent in Spanish is Cuaresma, the 40-day Catholic liturgical season of fasting and penance before Easter.
Cuaresma is kwah-REHS-mah, three syllables with stress on REHS.
Durante la Cuaresma, muchas familias se abstienen de comer carne los viernes.
During Lent, many families abstain from eating meat on Fridays.
How Native Speakers Use Cuaresma
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Religious observance
Este año voy a dejar el chocolate durante la Cuaresma.
This year I'm going to give up chocolate during Lent.
Personal sacrifice during Lent.
Cultural tradition
En Cuaresma se preparan platos especiales con pescado y mariscos.
During Lent, special dishes are prepared with fish and seafood.
Lenten food traditions.
Calendar reference
La Cuaresma empieza el Miércoles de Ceniza.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.
Liturgical calendar.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Cuaresma
Lowercase usage
Incorrect: No como carne en cuaresma.
Correct: No como carne en Cuaresma.
Cuaresma is capitalized as it refers to a specific religious season.
Confusing with cuarenta
Incorrect: La Cuarenta es un periodo religioso.
Correct: La Cuaresma es un periodo religioso.
While Cuaresma derives from cuarenta (forty), the correct word for the season is Cuaresma.
Lock in Lent Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Cuaresma used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using Cuaresma in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Durante la Cuaresma, muchas familias se abstienen de comer carne los viernes. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Lent in Spanish
- What is Lent called in Spanish?
- Lent is called Cuaresma (kwah-REHS-mah) in Spanish, derived from the Latin word for forty, referencing the 40 days of the season.
- How is Cuaresma observed in Spanish-speaking countries?
- Observances vary by region but typically include fasting, abstaining from meat on Fridays, attending special church services, and participating in processions during Semana Santa.
- What is Miércoles de Ceniza?
- Miércoles de Ceniza is Ash Wednesday, the day that marks the beginning of Cuaresma when Catholics receive ashes on their foreheads.