Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| Jesucristo | /xesuˈkɾisto/ /ʃesuˈkɾisto/ |
| ave María purísima | /abe maɾia puɾisima/ (from spelling rules) |
Jesucristo serves two purposes: it is the proper name for Jesus of Nazareth, and it functions as an interjection to express shock, surprise or frustration.
Which one should you use?
Jesucristo refers to the religious figure, but it is also used as an expletive or oath to express emotion. In contrast, ave María purísima is a separate expression found in the language.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you may come across the expression Jesús bendito.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/xesuˈkɾisto/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say Jesús Cristo by translating directly from English. However, in Spanish, the name of the religious figure is the single word Jesucristo.
When do people say it?
When used as an interjection to express surprise or frustration, it acts similarly to the English 'Jesus Christ'.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking contexts, the word maría can be a slang clipping of the word marihuana, which is a very different concept from the Virgin Mary.
- Using Jesucristo as an exclamation in very formal or conservative circles can be viewed as 'blasfemia' or blasphemy rather than a simple figure of speech.
- In many traditional Spanish-speaking cultures, someone shouting Jesucristo in shock might instinctively perform the gesture of crossing themselves.
Examples in context
- Jesucristo es mi salvador.Jesus Christ is my saviour.This sentence uses Jesucristo to identify a savior.Tatoeba #12441922 by emma_zunz, translation #5699770 by abyssalalice
- Los cristianos creen en Jesucristo.Christians believe in Jesus Christ.This sentence uses Jesucristo to show whom Christians believe in.Tatoeba #1672227 by marcelostockle, translation #63091 by mervert1
- Jesucristo se convirtió al budismo.Jesus Christ converted to Buddhism.This sentence uses Jesucristo as the subject of a sentence regarding a religious conversion.Tatoeba #4094844 by hayastan, translation #787574 by BraveSentry
- La figura central del cristianismo es JesucristoThe central figure of Christianity is Jesus Christ
- Como Hijo de Dios, Jesús sacrificó su vida por la humanidadAs the Son of God, Jesus sacrificed his life for humanity
- Me gusta leer sobre la vida de JesúsI enjoy reading about the life of Jesus
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo accidentally drops his phone in a puddle.
- Lucía¡Jesucristo, Mateo, ten más cuidado!Jesus Christ, Mateo, be more careful!
- MateoLo siento, Lucía, se me resbaló.I'm sorry, Lucía, it slipped from my hand.
- Lucía¡Jesucristo, ahora el teléfono no funciona!Jesus Christ, now the phone doesn't work!
- MateoNo te preocupes, lo arreglaré.Don't worry, I will fix it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “Jesus Christ” translations and entries Jesucristo, 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 Jesucristo, María, ave, maría, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
