What is the difference between santo and sagrado in translating the English religious word "holy." How are the two words used in religious contexts in Spanish-speaking countries?
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4As far as I can tell holy=santo/a sacred=sagrado– LauraCommented Jan 31, 2012 at 20:07
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2Is there a question here that can't be answered by reading the dictionary definitions of santo and sagrado?– FlimzyCommented Feb 1, 2012 at 2:29
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@Flimzy: My dictionary lists "holy" as a translation for both words. I'm trying to figure out when you'd use which when translating "holy" from English.– jrdiokoCommented Feb 1, 2012 at 2:31
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1A translation dictionary probably is not sufficient in this case. I liked to the RAE definitions (in Spanish) of both words above. The definitions there are much more in-depth than a translation dictionary can provide. Let me know if those help answer your question.– FlimzyCommented Feb 1, 2012 at 2:33
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@Flimzy: Those do help clarify some. It sounds though from Janoma's answer that there's no easy rule... some set phrases (like Holy Family) probably just need to be memorized.– jrdiokoCommented Feb 1, 2012 at 2:38
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1 Answer
Holy means sagrado and santo in the sense of sacred:
Holy Land : Tierra santa
Holy Spirit : Espíritu santo
Holy Bible : la santa biblia (common) or la sagrada biblia (uncommon)
Holy Family : la sagrada familia (as in Gaudí's masterpiece)
Holy Grial : el santo grial
It's also translated as bendito(a):
Holy water : agua bendita
However, santo is the word used for a saint:
Saint Patrick : San Patricio. Patricio es un santo.
Saint Mary : Santa María. María es una santa.
All Saints' Day : día de todos los santos.
