iglesia
/iˈɡlesja/feminine
The English word "church" is translated into Spanish as iglesia.
iglesia is a feminine noun used to refer to a house of worship. It can refer to the physical building or to the religious institution itself, such as in the phrase la iglesia.
Meaning: house of worship (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain and some Latin American countries, Capilla is commonly used to refer to a chapel or a small church.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of iglesia is las iglesias.
How do you pronounce it?
/iˈɡlesja/
Did you know?
- The word iglesia originates from the Ancient Greek word ekklēsía, which meant a 'gathering' or 'assembly' of citizens rather than a physical building.
- While iglesia refers to the building, the phrase ir a misa is used more frequently to describe the act of attending a service, as misa specifically refers to the Mass.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the iglesia is the central point of the town square, known as the plaza, often serving as the primary social and geographic landmark for the entire community.
Examples in context
- Voy a la iglesia.I'm going to church.This sentence is useful for expressing movement toward a destination with iglesia.Tatoeba #2711405 by Shishir, translation #2548251 by CK
- Esa es una iglesia.That's a church.This sentence is useful for identifying a building with iglesia.Tatoeba #1706367 by marcelostockle, translation #1706368 by marcelostockle
- No va a la iglesia.He doesn't go to church.This sentence is useful for describing an action or habit that does not include going to iglesia.Tatoeba #3147790 by Shishir, translation #3096303 by Hybrid
- El presidente asistió a misa en la iglesia esta mañana.The president attended mass at the church this morning.
- Acudiremos a la iglesia para la ceremonia de boda.We will go to the church for the wedding ceremony.
- La boda se celebrará en el templo histórico del pueblo.The wedding will take place in the historical temple of the town.
- Vamos a la iglesia todos los domingos en familia.We go to church every Sunday as a family.
- ¿Quieres venir conmigo a la iglesia de mi barrio?Do you want to come with me to my neighborhood's church?
- Me gusta la comunidad de mi parroquia, son muy acogedores.I like my parish community, they are very welcoming.
- 204 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are walking through a small town.
- Elena¿Ves esa iglesia blanca?Do you see that white church?
- MateoSí, es muy bonita.Yes, it is very beautiful.
- ElenaMateo, ¿podemos entrar?Mateo, can we go inside?
- MateoClaro, vamos a verla.Of course, let's go see it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “church” translations and entries iglesia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries iglesia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
