monja

Monja is the Spanish noun for a nun, a woman who has dedicated her life to a religious order within Christianity, most commonly the Catholic Church. In practice, a monja can be part of a cloistered contemplative community that dedicates itself to prayer and separation from the world, or an apostolic community that engages in education, healthcare, or social services. Nuns commit to a religious vocation that typically includes vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, and they live according to the rule of their order. Their daily life often centers on communal prayer, liturgy, and work suited to their community’s charism. Nuns usually wear a distinctive habit or veil that signals their religious status and affiliation.

Etymology: The word monja derives from the feminine form of monje, itself from Latin monachus, meaning monk. The lineage traces from late Latin and the broader monastic tradition of the ancient Mediterranean to the modern Romance languages.

Usage: In Spanish, monja is widely used to refer to any woman who has joined a religious community as a nun. The male counterpart is monje. In other Romance languages, there are equivalents such as monaco/monaca in Italian, which reflect the same root. In contemporary contexts, the term may appear in religious, historical, or literary contexts.