Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Priest in Spanish: Sacerdote, Cura & Padre
Sacerdote · noun · sah-ser-DOH-teh
"Sacerdote" is the formal Spanish word for priest. In everyday conversation, many speakers use "cura" informally or address a priest as "padre." All three terms refer to an ordained religious leader, typically in the Catholic tradition.
sah-ser-DOH-teh (sacerdote) · KOO-rah (cura) · PAH-dreh (padre)
El sacerdote ofició la misa del domingo.
The priest officiated the Sunday mass.
Priest in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for priest, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| sacerdote | priest | sah-ser-DOH-teh | Default, widely understood |
| cura | priest | informal, colloquial | |
| padre | priest | form of address | |
| presbítero | priest | formal ecclesiastical title |
How Native Speakers Use Sacerdote
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Formal reference
El sacerdote dio un sermón sobre la importancia de la comunidad.
The priest gave a sermon about the importance of community.
Sacerdote is the most neutral and formal term, suitable for news, writing, and official contexts.
Colloquial conversation
El cura del barrio conoce a todas las familias.
The neighborhood priest knows all the families.
Cura is widely used in casual speech across Spain and Latin America without any disrespectful connotation.
Direct address
Padre, ¿a qué hora es la misa de esta tarde?
Father, what time is this afternoon's mass?
When speaking directly to a priest, padre is the respectful form of address, equivalent to Father in English.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Sacerdote
Confusing padre with father (family)
Incorrect: Mi sacerdote me llevó al colegio. (meaning my dad)
Correct: Mi padre me llevó al colegio.
While "padre" can mean priest when used as a title, its primary meaning is father. Context and usage determine the meaning — "Padre García" is a priest, "mi padre" is my dad.
Using cura as feminine for a female healer
Incorrect: La cura me ayudó con mi enfermedad.
Correct: La cura me ayudó. (if meaning "the cure")
"El cura" (masculine article) means the priest. "La cura" (feminine article) means the cure or healing. Mixing up the article changes the meaning completely.
Lock in Priest 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 Sacerdote used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using sacerdote in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El sacerdote ofició la misa del domingo. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Priest in Spanish
- Is cura disrespectful when referring to a priest?
- "Cura" carries no negative connotation — it is simply the informal word for priest, widely used across the Spanish-speaking world. It carries no negative connotation and is comparable to saying "the local priest" in a casual tone.
- Can sacerdote refer to priests of non-Catholic religions?
- "Sacerdote" applies broadly to any ordained religious leader, including those in other Christian denominations or even historical contexts like Mayan or Aztec priests. For specific traditions, additional qualifiers may be used.
- What is the feminine form for a female religious leader?
- "Sacerdotisa" is the feminine form and can refer to a priestess in historical, literary, or non-Catholic contexts. In Catholicism, women in religious orders are typically called "monja" (nun) or "hermana" (sister), not sacerdotisa.