Biblia
/ˈbiblja/feminine
To say Bible in Spanish, use Biblia, usually as la Biblia. If unsure, use Biblia. Wiktionary also lists Escritura and Escrituras.
Meaning: Christian holy book (name)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Biblia | /ˈbiblja/ | feminine |
| Escritura | /eskɾituɾa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| Escrituras | /eskɾituɾas/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, plural |
| Sagrada Escritura | /saɡɾada eskɾituɾa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| Sagradas Escrituras | /saɡɾadas eskɾituɾas/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, plural |
| letras divinas | /letɾas dibinas/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, plural |
| letras sagradas | /letɾas saɡɾadas/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, plural |
la Biblia is the everyday name for the Christian holy book. Written in lowercase, una biblia can also mean a thorough manual or definitive guide on a subject, just like in English.
Which one should you use?
la Biblia names the specific book. las Escrituras, the Scriptures, is a more formal or reverent way to refer to the sacred texts. Longer forms such as Sagrada Escritura and Sagradas Escrituras mean Holy Scripture.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Biblia is a feminine noun and is almost always used with the definite article la.
How do you pronounce it?
Biblia is pronounced /ˈbiblja/, with the stress on the first syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes say el Biblia because libro is masculine. Biblia is feminine, so say la Biblia.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word escritura is used in legal contexts to refer to a property deed or a land title, far removed from its religious meaning.
- The word Biblia is actually the plural form of the Greek word for 'books', which is why it refers to a collection of many texts rather than a single volume.
- The term letras divinas is a highly poetic way to refer to the text, often found in older or more classical Spanish literature.
Examples in context
- Así dice la Biblia.That's what the Bible says.la Biblia is the subject of the verb says.Tatoeba #2139165 by hayastan, translation #9943916 by Alairis
- Él estudia la biblia.He studies the Bible.la biblia appears here in lowercase but still names the holy book.Tatoeba #3012374 by hayastan, translation #2799015 by Hybrid
- Jura sobre la Biblia.Swear on the Bible.la Biblia follows sobre to mean swear on the Bible.Tatoeba #10092978 by manufrutos, translation #10088579 by ddnktr
- La Biblia es un libro sagrado para los cristianos.The Bible is a sacred book for Christians.
- Los fieles van a la iglesia a leer y estudiar la Biblia.Worshipers go to church to read and study the Bible.
- Los pastores suelen hacer referencia a la Biblia en sus sermones.Pastors often refer to the Bible in their sermons.
- Me encanta leer la Santa Biblia antes de dormir.I love reading the Holy Bible before going to sleep.
- Mi abuela siempre tiene a mano su Santo Libro.My grandmother always keeps her Holy Book close at hand.
- 63 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and María are at a bookstore.
- Mateo¿Tienes una Biblia de bolsillo?Do you have a pocket Bible?
- MaríaSí, tengo esta aquí en la mesa.Yes, I have this one here on the table.
- MateoEs una Biblia muy bonita.It is a very beautiful Bible.
- MaríaGracias, Mateo, me gusta mucho su diseño.Thanks, Mateo, I like its design a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bible” translations and entries Biblia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Biblia, biblia, escritura, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
