orar
Lemma Details
Translation: to pray; to worship; to plead
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Orar comes from Latin 'orare' meaning 'to speak', 'to plead', or 'to pray'. This Latin root also gave English words like 'oration' (a formal speech), 'orator' (a public speaker), and 'adore' (originally meaning 'to pray to'). The semantic shift from speaking to praying reflects how prayer was conceptualized as a formal address to a deity.
Commonality: 60%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'oral' in English - orar originally meant 'to speak' before it specialized to mean prayer (speaking to God).
- Connect it to 'oration' - a formal speech, just as prayer is a formal address to a deity.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, which are predominantly Catholic, orar is a common verb associated with religious practice. It's used in both personal and communal religious contexts, and appears frequently in religious texts and liturgy.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While both mean 'to pray', 'orar' is slightly more formal and often implies a more personal, meditative prayer, while 'rezar' often refers to reciting established prayers.
Notes: In everyday usage, many Spanish speakers use these verbs interchangeably.
Mnemonic: Orar is for Original prayers (personal), Rezar is for Reciting established prayers.
Explanation: 'Orar' means to pray, while 'adorar' means to adore or worship.
Confused word:
Adora a su esposa e hijos.
He adores his wife and children.
Notes: Both have religious connotations but adorar can also be used in secular contexts.
Mnemonic: Adorar has the 'ad' prefix, making it stronger - moving from simply praying to actively worshipping.