Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Grammar


Saints

 

This is the place for questions about conjugations, verb tenses, adverbs, adjectives, word order, syntax and other grammar questions for English or Spanish.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old February 04, 2011, 08:47 AM
Sancho Panther's Avatar
Sancho Panther Sancho Panther is offline
Emerald
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Reino Unido
Posts: 522
Native Language: Inglés
Sancho Panther is on a distinguished road
Saints

I used to know the rule for when to employ 'Santo' and when to use 'San', but now I can't bring it to mind, would someone be kind enough to remind me?
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old February 04, 2011, 10:02 AM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is online now
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,038
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
I don't know if this is a rule, but:

One uses "San" when it's a title before the name, like in "San Antonio", "San Pedro", "San Juan"..., with the exception of "Santo Tomás" (I don't know why). "Santa" never changes ("Santa María", "Santa Ana", "Santa Lucía"...)

"Santo" when one is talking about the quality of a person: "Mi mamá es una santa", "Juan tiene paciencia de santo", "El santo padre de la iglesia", "La santa que hace caridad en el pueblo", "Los santos médicos que vinieron a ayudarnos"...
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old February 04, 2011, 10:06 AM
Caballero's Avatar
Caballero Caballero is offline
Emerald
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 505
Caballero is on a distinguished road
San is used before names, unless they start with a t or d.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old February 04, 2011, 10:08 AM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is online now
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,038
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
I'm not sure that rule is valid: I've never seen "Santo Torcuato" or "Santo Daniel", but "San Torcuato" or "San Daniel".

Edit:

According to the Diccionario Panhispánico de dudas, "santo", as a title, goes before Domingo, Tomás, Tomé and Toribio. In all other cases, it shall be "san".

And there is a little note too on the capital letter:
Quote:
"Santo" or "santa" are not written with a capital letter, except when they're abbreviations like "san Luis" -> "S. Luis".
The exception is made when the title is traditionally associated to a proper name, like in "San Juan" (for San Juan de la Cruz) or "Santa Teresa" (for Santa Teresa de Jesús).
They're also written with a capital letter when the're names of places, streets, institutions, buildings, proper names, etc., like in "plaza de Santa Bárbara", "Hermandad de San Roque", "Hospital de San Rafael", "Pedro San Martín".
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...

Last edited by AngelicaDeAlquezar; February 04, 2011 at 10:32 AM. Reason: Edit: Added a comment from the RAE
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old February 04, 2011, 11:17 AM
pjt33's Avatar
pjt33 pjt33 is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Valencia, España
Posts: 2,600
Native Language: Inglés (en-gb)
pjt33 is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar View Post
I don't know if this is a rule, but:

One uses "San" when it's a title before the name, like in "San Antonio", "San Pedro", "San Juan"..., with the exception of "Santo Tomás" (I don't know why).
Para que no se confunda con Santo Más. Si miras la lista de nombres que has sacado del DPD son los que empiezan con To o Do (que son muy parecidos fonéticamente).
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old February 04, 2011, 12:27 PM
irmamar's Avatar
irmamar irmamar is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,071
Native Language: Español
irmamar is on a distinguished road
Y luego está Santiago, que no tiene "título" porque se unieron las palabras "sant" e "Iago".
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old February 04, 2011, 06:05 PM
Caballero's Avatar
Caballero Caballero is offline
Emerald
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 505
Caballero is on a distinguished road
From Latin Sanctus *(“holy, saint”) Iacobus *(“James”).

c > g is a common change from Latin to Spanish.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old February 05, 2011, 12:46 AM
ROBINDESBOIS's Avatar
ROBINDESBOIS ROBINDESBOIS is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,040
ROBINDESBOIS is on a distinguished road
How interesting, I never stopped to think about it.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
san, santa, santo

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:43 PM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X