Categories: Cultural Insights

Spanish Expressions with the Word ‘God’

Spanish Expressions with the word ‘God’. Although everyday expressions with religious connotations also exist in English, I don’t hear them half as much as I do here in Colombia. And if they do exist in English, they probably have a non-religious equivalent (Jesus!=Jeesh!). The language of a country is not only the way people communicate, but it gives you a cultural insight into how they think and live. This is why some words exist in one language and not in another.

I couldn’t help but notice how curious it was to hear of ‘God’ when someone first saw me ‘Que milagro de Dios!’ or when they told me a personal story ‘si Dios lo quiere’ and when they waved me off ‘Que dios te bendiga’. All these expressions are a common reminder that Colombia remains largely Catholic and conservative.

To decipher some day to day holy phrases of Hewhomustbenamed I created a chart in light to help you maneuver around a typical Colombian conversation. This is just to have a bit of light-hearted fun. I’m sure some have more than one translation and ways to use it.

Spanish Expressions with the word ‘God’

In Spanish	Literally	What it really means	When to use it
Gracias a Dios	Thanks to God	Thank God/Goodness	Show relief or gratitude
Por Dios	For God	For God’s/Goodness sake	PG-rated swearing or to beg
Dios mío	My God	OMG!/My Goodness	To show surprise or horror
Si Dios lo quiere	If God wants it	If I’m lucky	When something you want to happen is out of your control
Que Dios te bendiga	God bless you	Be well, stay safe	To say goodbye
Ay Dios!	Oh God!	Jesus!	When excited, frightened, grossed out, etc.
Que milagro de Dios!	What a miracle from God	(Can have various interpretations): It’s good to see you	To show surprise or delight
Ni Dios…	Not even God…	Not a soul…, no one…	To emphasize ‘no one’
Adios	To God	Farewell	To say goodbye
Vaya con Dios	Go with God	See ya’ later alligator	To say goodbye
Juro por Dios	I swear to God	I swear to God	I swear to God