monasterio
/monasˈteɾjo/masculine
The English word "monastery" is monasterio in Spanish.
A monasterio is a building for monks. Note that while monasterio can be used for both monks and nuns, the term convento is more commonly used to refer to a smaller religious community or the residence of nuns. Additionally, convento often specifically refers to a female religious community and abadía is reserved for monasteries specifically headed by an abbot or abbess.
Meaning: building for monks (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, convento may be more commonly used to refer to both convents and monasteries.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of monasterio is monasterios.
How do you pronounce it?
/monasˈteɾjo/
Did you know?
- In Spain, the monasterio de El Escorial is not just a monastery but was designed as a royal palace and a royal pantheon for the Spanish monarchy.
- Some historical monasterios in Spain, like those in Montserrat, are built directly into the rock of mountains to symbolize a closer connection to the heavens.
- In certain historical contexts in Latin America, the word convento was used to describe large, fortified complex structures that functioned as much as administrative centers as they did religious sites.
Examples in context
- La biblioteca ocupaba un antiguo monasterio abandonado.The library was in an old abandoned monastery.This sentence shows the use of monasterio in a description of a library location.Tatoeba #13863822 by Seael, translation #13866028 by araneo
- El Museo de la Biblia con sede en EE.UU., que alberga algunas de las colecciones de manuscritos religiosos más veneradas del mundo, acordó la semana pasada devolver un raro libro del evangelio del siglo X al Monasterio de Theotokos Eikosiphinisa en el norte de Grecia.The U.S.-based Museum of the Bible, which holds some of the world’s most revered collections of religious manuscripts, agreed last week to return a rare 10th century gospel book to the Monastery of Theotokos Eikosiphinisa in northern Greece.This sentence uses monasterio when referring to a specific religious institution in Greece.Tatoeba #10027829 by manufrutos, translation #9418656 by Hybrid
- El monasterio benedictino está ubicado en las afueras del pueblo.The Benedictine monastery is located on the outskirts of the town.
- Visitamos el antiguo convento dominico en el centro histórico.We visited the old Dominican monastery in the historic center.
- La abadía cisterciense es conocida por su arquitectura gótica.The Cistercian monastery is known for its Gothic architecture.
- Vamos a visitar el monasterio que está en lo alto de la montaña.Let's visit the monastery located at the top of the mountain.
- Pasamos el verano en un pequeño pueblo cerca del convento.We spent the summer in a small town near the monastery.
- Me encanta disfrutar de la tranquilidad de la abadía los fines de semana.I love enjoying the tranquility of the monastery on weekends.
- El monasterio está en la cima de la montaña.The monastery is at the top of the mountain.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are planning a hiking trip.
- Mateo¿Quieres visitar el monasterio este fin de semana?Do you want to visit the monastery this weekend?
- LucíaSí, me gustaría mucho conocer ese lugar.Yes, I would really like to see that place.
- MateoEs un monasterio muy antiguo y hermoso.It is a very old and beautiful monastery.
- LucíaPerfecto, preparemos las mochilas para la excursión.Perfect, let's prepare the backpacks for the excursion.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “monastery” translations and entries monasterio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
