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bendito

blessed, holy

adjective behn-DEE-toh Rare

Origin: from Latin benedictus (well-spoken, blessed)

Also means

blasted (mild expletive)

Usage Note

Bendito has two very different registers: in religious contexts it means truly blessed (agua bendita — holy water), while in colloquial speech it functions as a mild intensifier expressing frustration — ¡bendita sea! or ¡el bendito coche no arranca!. The feminine form is bendita and it follows normal agreement rules. Agua bendita is feminine despite agua taking el.

Examples

"El cura bendijo el agua bendita."

Natural Translation

The priest blessed the holy water.

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