# Cruz

/ˈkɹuz/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cruz
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a surname

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

A common family name in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries.

For teachers: 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.

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.

### 2. a place name

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

The name of several towns or districts, such as in the Philippines or Latin America.

For teachers: 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.

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.

## Examples

- The museum displays a rare gold cruz from the eighteenth century.
- Archaeologists discovered several silver cruz coins buried near the old port city.
- The circulation of the cruz facilitated maritime trade across the Portuguese Empire before it was eventually superseded by more modern currency systems.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.