Jánuca
/ˈxanuka/feminine, alternative form
Hanukkah is translated into Spanish as Jánuca, Janucá or Hanukkah.
Meaning: the Jewish festival (name)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Jánuca | /ˈxanuka/ | feminine, alternative form |
| Janucá | /xanuˈka/ | feminine |
| Hanukkah | /ˈxanuka/ | feminine, alternative form |
The term refers to the Jewish festival.
Which one should you use?
While 'Hanukkah' is the English spelling, 'Janucá' is the standard phonetic adaptation used in Spanish-speaking contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a feminine noun, Hanukkah is preceded by the feminine article 'la' when used in a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈxanuka/
Did you know?
- While Janucá refers to the holiday, the word fiesta is used to describe it. In Spanish, fiesta can mean a sacred religious observance and a wild party, depending entirely on the context.
- The use of the letter j in Janucá is a phonetic choice to mimic the Hebrew 'chet' sound. In Spanish, the 'jota' is the closest equivalent to that guttural aspiration.
- In some Spanish-speaking Jewish communities, you might hear people use the term la fiesta de las luces instead of the Hebrew name to describe the holiday.
Examples in context
- Janucá empieza el 25 de kislev y acaba el 2 o el 3 de tevet.Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev and ends on the 2nd or 3rd of Tevet.This sentence is useful for noting the dates when Janucá begins and ends.Tatoeba #10091101 by manufrutos, translation #10073713 by shekitten
- Mis amigos celebran Janucá con una cena familiar.My friends celebrate Hanukkah with a family dinner.
- ¿Vas a la fiesta de Janucá en el centro comunitario? No puedo esperar.Are you going to the Hanukkah party at the community center? I can't wait.
- Mañana celebramos Jánuca en familia.Tomorrow we celebrate Hanukkah with the family.
- Me gusta mucho la luz de Jánuca.I really like the light of Hanukkah.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are talking about their plans for the upcoming holidays.
- Lucía¿Vas a celebrar Jánuca este año, Mateo?Are you going to celebrate Hanukkah this year, Mateo?
- MateoSí, voy a cenar con mis padres.Yes, I am going to have dinner with my parents.
- LucíaQué bueno, espero que lo pases bien.That's good, I hope you have a good time.
- MateoGracias, Lucía, te deseo lo mismo.Thanks, Lucía, I wish you the same.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “Hanukkah” translations and entries Jánuca, Janucá, Hanukkah, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
