Spanish Conversation · Level 17
89 words
Spanish word
santería
Pronunciation
IPA/santeˈɾia/
Meaning
- feminine nounSanteria
Example
En La Habana hay mucha santería.
In Havana there is a lot of Santeria.
More examples
En el barrio celebran rituales de santería cada año.
In the neighborhood they celebrate rituals of Santeria every year.
Core concept
Table altar mixing Catholic icons, food offerings, candles, and African ritual objects.
Common phrases
practicar la santería
practice Santeria
rituales de la santería
rituals of Santeria
creencias de la santería
beliefs of Santeria
Similar words
religión: Organized system of beliefs and worship centered on gods or saints.
culto: Devotional worship or rites performed specifically for a particular deity or saint.
ceremonia: Formal event with prescribed steps observed for a special occasion or milestone.
rito: Religiously prescribed sequence of actions carried out as part of worship.
Definition in Spanish
Conjunto de prácticas religiosas en Cuba de origen africano y cristiano que rinde culto a los orishas mediante rituales, ofrendas y símbolos católicos.
Word origin
The term comes from Spanish santo ('saint') plus the noun-forming suffix -ería and arose in Cuba to describe a religious tradition blending Catholic elements with Yoruba-derived worship of orishas.
Usage tips
- In everyday English the accent is often dropped as Santeria, so specifying that it refers to a particular Cuban religious tradition helps avoid misunderstanding.
Opposites
- ateísmoatheismnoun
- secularismosecularismnoun
Related words
- santeroSanteria priestnoun
- santeraSanteria priestessnoun
- santeristaSanteria followernoun