Happy Hanukkah in Spanish: Say Feliz Janúca & 73 Other Spanish Words for Hanukkah

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by Jewish communities worldwide.

This blog post is about chunks related to this holiday to help you learn and discuss a Happy Hanukkah in Spanish.

Phrases like “janucá sameaj” (Happy Hanukkah), “trompo” (dreidel), and “bimuelos” (fried fritters) will make your understanding better.

If you’re not yet familiar with these expressions, don’t worry!

This blog post will help you learn the most important chunks, not just about Hanukkah, but also about winter-related festivities.

1. Translating Happy Hanukkah in Spanish

Effortless Answers

Hanukkah in Spanish is called “Janucá” or “Jánuca“. The most simple greeting to say “Happy Hanukkah” in Spanish is: “Feliz Janucá

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev – you can learn more about Kislev on Wikipedia. This can fall anytime between late November or late December on the Gregorian calendar.

Some of the most common Hanukkah-related traditions (that we will explore in this blog post):

  1. Lighting the Hanukkah menorah (a special nine-branched candelabra), adding one candle each night
  2. Eating fried foods like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts), to remember the miracle of the oil
  3. Playing with the dreidel (a four-sided spinning top) and gambling with chocolate coins
  4. Exchanging gifts, giving presents to children
  5. Singing Hanukkah songs and saying prayers
  6. Displaying the Hanukkah menorah in windows or public places
  7. Playing games and spending time with family and friends

2. Other essential greeting for hanukkah in Spanish

Although Feliz Janucá is the most common way to wish someone a Happy Hanukkah, there are other possible Spanish greetings for this holiday season.

Here’s a helpful table:

SpanishEnglish
Feliz JanucáHappy Hanukkah
¡Buena Janucá!Have a good Hanukkah!
¡Que la disfrutes!Enjoy it!
¡Felices fiestas!Happy holidays!
¡Janucá Sameaj!Happy Hanukkah! (from Hebrew)
Que tengas una Janucá llena de luzMay you have a Hanukkah filled with light
¡Que la alegría de Janucá ilumine tu hogar!May the joy of Hanukkah illuminate your home!
Que esta Janucá traiga paz y bendicionesMay this Hanukkah bring peace and blessings
¡Celebra las luces de Janucá!Celebrate the lights of Hanukkah!
¡Feliz festival de las luminarias!Happy Festival of Lights!

Did you see the last one? Hanukkah is sometimes also called the Festival of Lights. Let’s explore some of the traditions linked to this holiday in the next section!

3. Hanukkah traditions in Spanish-speaking countries + vocabulary

The Hanukkah menorah

The Hanukkah menorah is a special nine-branched candelabra used during the holiday. It holds nine candles or lights – one for each night of Hanukkah, plus a separate shamash (servant) candle used to light the other candles.

happy hanukkah in spanish with a lighted menorah on blue background
The Hanukkah menorah

Hanukkah food

The main theme about Hanukkah food is that they are fried in oil, and many families have their own recipes during the holiday season.

SpanishEnglish
latkespotato pancakes
sufganiyotjelly-filled doughnuts
bimuelosfried fritters
sevivonfried cookie twist
loukoumadesGreek honey puffs
brisketbrisket
kugelnoodle casserole
quesocheese
gelt de chocolatechocolate coins
rugelachrolled pastries
aceiteoil
freírto fry
comida fritafried food
mantequillabutter
azúcarsugar
mermeladajam
mielhoney
masadough
especiasspices
carnemeat
pasteleríapastry

Hanukkah games

Saying Happy Hanukkah in Spanish isn’t enough if you want to fully feel the holiday events. You also have to know the Hanukkah games in and out!

happy hanukkah in spanish - bingo
Bingo is a popular game played during Hanukkah

One of the most popular Hanukkah games is the dreidel or “trompo” in Spanish. It is a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters. Players spin it and win or lose based on which side it lands. The sévivon is a similar spinning top game played in Spain and Sephardic communities.

Some game-related vocabulary for Hanukkah.

SpanishEnglish
trompodreidel (spinning top)
sevivónsévivon (spinning top)
bingo de JanucáHanukkah Bingo
trivia de JanucáHanukkah Trivia
juego de memoriamemory/matching game
adivinanzascharades
girarto spin
azarluck
destrezaskill
conocimientoknowledge
tradicionestraditions
costumbrescustoms
símbolossymbols
imágenesimages
adivinarto guess
actuarto act out
fichasmarkers/tokens
monedas de chocolatechocolate coins/gelt
letras hebreasHebrew letters
diversiónfun
celebracióncelebration
comunidadcommunity

4. Winter holidays vocabulary and sentences in Spanish

The following vocabulary covers almost every aspect of Hanukkah: everything we mentioned previously and some more!

happy hanukkah in Spanish - a menorah
A beautiful Hanukkah menorah with candles

These Spanish terms can be useful when you’re talking about the winter holidays.

SpanishEnglish
JanucáHanukkah
festival de las luminariasfestival of lights
jánucaHanukkah menorah (candelabra)
velascandles
trompo/sevivóndreidel/spinning top
gelt (de chocolate)chocolate coins/gelt
latkespotato pancakes
sufganiyotjelly-filled doughnuts
bimuelosfried fritters
tradiciones judíasJewish traditions
celebración familiarfamily celebration
libertad religiosareligious freedom
milagro del aceitemiracle of the oil
macabeosMaccabees
rededición del Templorededication of the Temple
luz sobre oscuridadlight over darkness
cantos de JanucáHanukkah songs
juegos de JanucáHanukkah games
temporada invernalwinter season
vacaciones de inviernowinter holidays

5. Practice saying Happy Hanukkah in Spanish with our practice worksheet

After the introduction, it’s time to throw you into a serious situation… practice! Here’s a little exercise for you:

If you want more, you can request the full practice worksheet by clicking the button below!

6. Learn more about Hanukkah with example sentences and Conversation Based Chunking method

Conversation Based Chunking is an effective method to learn winter holiday vocabulary and Hanukkah-related words and phrases in Spanish.

You can practice using the new words and phrases in relevant scenarios, such as describing Hanukkah foods, games, or customs described in this blog post.

Conversation Based Chunking makes you learn vocabulary in an interactive way: you will soon find out that it’s easier to remember these chunks and apply them in real-life situations.

Sign up now and get your first Spanish Chunking Starter Pack!

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