plegaria

Plegaria is a noun used in several Romance languages, notably Spanish and Portuguese, to denote a prayer or supplication addressed to a higher power, typically God or a saint. In religious practice it can refer to a fixed liturgical formula or to a more general act of devotion, and it may be pluralized as plegarias to denote a collection of prayers or supplications. In modern Spanish, oración is the more common term for prayer, while plegaria tends to carry a formal or archaic nuance and is more commonly found in historical, religious, or literary contexts.

The term is attested in medieval and early modern texts and has cognates in related Romance languages. It can designate intercessory prayers, penitential expressions, or petitions for mercy or help, and it may appear in hymns, liturgies, or personal devotion. In cultural contexts, plegarias are sometimes associated with saints’ feast days, novenas, or processions, where communities recite or sing specific pleas.

In contemporary usage, plegaria can convey solemnity or humility and is often used to evoke traditional or devotional tones. See also prayer, supplication, litany, intercession.