que descanse en paz
/ke deskanse en paθ/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "may he rest in peace" is expressed as que descanse en paz.
This phrase is used to express a wish that a person who has died finds eternal peace. In written condolences, such as on headstones or in obituaries, the abbreviation Q.E.P.D. is frequently used.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase means "that he/she rests in peace". The word que at the beginning of the phrase functions as "may" in English to express a wish.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, the variation Descanse en paz, que el Señor lo acoja en su gloria (Rest in peace, may the Lord welcome him into His glory) is common.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the present subjunctive mood to express a wish or desire.
When do people say it?
Other variations of this sentiment include Dios lo tenga en la gloria, en el descanso eterno, which translates to "May God keep him in glory, in eternal rest".
Did you know?
- The word paz comes from a Latin root meaning 'to fasten' or 'to fix', suggesting that peace is a state of stability.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, if you are attending a wake, it is common to respond to the phrase with Amén rather than repeating the sentiment.
- While the phrase starts with que, this word actually evolved from the Latin word for 'what'.
Examples in context
- Que descanse en paz.May he rest in peace.This is a simple statement of the phrase que descanse en paz.Tatoeba #1768684 by marcelostockle, translation #10673082 by ddnktr
- ¡Qué lástima! Era un buen profesor. Que descanse en paz.What a pity! He was a good professor. May he rest in peace.This example shows how to use que descanse en paz when expressing sympathy for a deceased professor.Tatoeba #4426515 by Serafin, translation #4426110 by AlanF_US
- Era un gran hombre, que descanse en paz.He was a great man, may he rest in peace.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are talking about a mutual acquaintance at a funeral.
- SofíaLo siento mucho, Alejandro.I am so sorry, Alejandro.
- AlejandroGracias, era una persona muy especial.Thank you, he was a very special person.
- SofíaQue descanse en paz.May he rest in peace.
- AlejandroAmén, así será.Amen, so be it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries en, paz, que, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
