funeral
nounCEFR B2
What does “funeral” mean in English?
funeral — the ceremony held after someone's death
funeral — the ceremony held after someone's death (funeral de estado; asistir al funeral; funeral religioso/laico)
Example sentences
El funeral de estado reunió a representantes de más de cuarenta países que rindieron homenaje al dirigente fallecido.
The state funeral brought together representatives of more than forty countries who paid tribute to the late leader.
Cientos de vecinos se agolparon ante la iglesia para asistir al funeral de la maestra que había dedicado su vida al pueblo.
Hundreds of neighbours gathered outside the church to attend the funeral of the teacher who had devoted her life to the village.
Los rituales funerarios varían enormemente entre culturas, reflejando distintas concepciones de la muerte y el más allá.
Funerary rituals vary enormously between cultures, reflecting different conceptions of death and the afterlife.
How to use it
El funeral (noun, masculine) means 'funeral' — the ceremony held after someone's death. At B2 it appears in social, cultural, and political contexts (state funerals). Core collocations: asistir al funeral; funeral de estado (state funeral); funeral religioso/laico; los funerales (the funeral proceedings); rito funerario. Related: el entierro (burial/burial service — focuses on the physical act of burying), el velatorio (wake — the vigil before burial). Note: in Spanish, el funeral often focuses on the ceremony, while el entierro focuses on the physical burial. The adjective is fúnebre or funerario.
Common mistake
Don't confuse el funeral (the ceremony) with el entierro (the burial — physical act) or el velatorio (wake — the vigil). In everyday Spanish, funeral and entierro are sometimes used interchangeably for the whole event, but strictly they differ. The adjective fúnebre (funereal/mournful) derives from the same root.