lápida
/ˈlapida/
The Spanish word for tombstone is lápida.
The term refers to a stone marker placed on a grave or a slab of stone used as a grave marker.
Meaning: stone on grave (noun)
Which one should you use?
While lápida is the standard term for a stone slab marker, Monumento Funerario refers more broadly to a funeral monument.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural form, use lápidas.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈlapida/
Did you know?
- The word lápida is a linguistic 'cousin' to the Spanish word lápiz, which means 'pencil'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a lápida is often part of a small niche designed to look like a miniature house. This reflects the traditional view that a grave is the 'eternal home' of the deceased.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the lápida is not placed on the ground but is part of a vertical wall of niches called columbarios.
Examples in context
- La lápida del difunto está grabada con hermosos versos.The tombstone of the deceased is engraved with beautiful verses.
- Me gustaría colocar un monumento funerario para honrar a mi abuelo.I would like to place a tombstone to honor my grandfather.
- Escribieron sus nombres en la lápida.They wrote their names on the tombstone.
- La lápida es de mármol blanco.The tombstone is made of white marble.
- Escribieron su nombre en la lápida.They wrote his name on the tombstone.
- Limpiamos la lápida del abuelo.We cleaned grandfather's tombstone.
Example conversation
María and Mateo are visiting a cemetery.
- MaríaMira, Mateo, encontré la lápida de mi abuelo.Look, Mateo, I found my grandfather's tombstone.
- MateoEs muy bonita. ¿Qué dice el texto?It is very beautiful. What does the text say?
- MaríaDice que era un hombre muy generoso.It says that he was a very generous man.
- MateoEs un recuerdo muy especial en esta lápida.It is a very special memory on this tombstone.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tombstone” translations and entries lápida, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lápida, CC BY-SA 4.0.
