Skip to content

festival

festival

noun fes-tee-BAHL Less Common
Arts & Culture Festivals

Origin: From Medieval Latin festivalis, from festivus (festive), from festum (feast).

Usage Note

Festival is a direct cognate but note that in Spanish it almost always refers to a large organised event — a film festival (festival de cine), music festival, or cultural celebration — rather than a general feeling of festivity. The plural is festivales. Festivo is the adjective ('festive') and día festivo means a public holiday.

Examples

"El festival de cine dura una semana."

Natural Translation

The film festival lasts one week.

Literal Translation

The festival of cinema lasts a week

Explore Spanish by topic