Spanish word

holocausto

Pronunciation

IPA/oloˈkawsto/

Meaning

  • masculine nounthe Holocaust

Example

Nunca debemos olvidar el holocausto.

We must never forget the Holocaust.

Illustration for holocausto (the Holocaust)

More examples

Vi un documental sobre el holocausto que explicó los hechos claramente.

I saw a documentary about the Holocaust that explained the facts clearly.

Core concept

Systematic, state-organized extermination of a targeted civilian group.

Common phrases

  • testimonio del holocausto

    testimony of the Holocaust

  • documental sobre el holocausto

    documentary about the Holocaust

  • monumento a las víctimas del holocausto

    monument to the victims of the Holocaust

Similar words

genocidio: Mass killing intended to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.
limpieza étnica: Systematic expulsion of an ethnic group from a region, often accompanied by violence.
persecución: Ongoing hostile actions or discrimination against people because of who they are.
masacre: A single event in which many people are violently killed at once.

Definition in Spanish

Indica un genocidio o una matanza sistemática de gran escala; usado con mayúscula suele aludir específicamente al Holocausto nazi.

Word origin

From Greek ὁλόκαυστον (holókauston) 'whole burnt offering' via Latin holocaustum, originally a ritual total burn and now a term for vast, systematic killings, especially the Nazi genocide.

Usage tips

  • Spanish normally capitalizes Holocausto and uses the definite article el Holocausto for the Nazi genocide, while genocidio or masacre are used for other mass killings.

Other meanings

  • massacrenoun
  • mass murdernoun

Word lists with this word