Word
cruz
Phoneticscruz
/ˈkɹuz/
Definitions
01a surname
n. A common family name in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries.
n. A widespread surname of Ibero-Romance origin, often associated with families from Spain, Portugal, and Latin America.
“Penélope Cruz is a very famous actress from Spain.”
“The historian noted that the surname Cruz appeared frequently in the colonial records of the sixteenth century.”
Formal
Usage
Always capitalized as it is a proper noun.
Teaching tip
Learners should recognize this as a proper name rather than a common noun in English contexts.
02a place name
n. The name of several towns or districts, such as in the Philippines or Latin America.
n. A toponym used for various administrative divisions or geographical locations in formerly Spanish or Portuguese territories.
“They visited a small village called Cruz during their trip to the islands.”
“The administrative district of Cruz has seen significant population growth due to its proximity to the regional capital.”
Formal
Usage
Used as a proper noun for specific geographical entities.
Teaching tip
This is often part of a larger name, such as Santa Cruz or Veracruz.
Etymology
From Romance (Portuguese Cruz and Spanish Cruz).
Derived from Ibaloi kurus (“the hanging of horns of sacrificed animals”), wherein it took place in the area.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/cruz