Standard Lemma guide

novena

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A recitation of prayers and devotions for nine consecutive days, especially one to a saint to ask for their intercession.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: Catholicism, Christianity, Roman-Catholicism

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a Roman Catholic devotion consisting of prayers on nine consecutive days

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: devotion

History

Etymology

From Ecclesiastical Latin novēna, from Latin novēnus (“nine [each]”).

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Basque: bederatziurren — a recitation of prayers for nine days
  • Catalan: novena — a recitation of prayers for nine days
  • Dutch: noveen — a recitation of prayers for nine days
  • Dutch: novene — a recitation of prayers for nine days
  • French: neuvaine — a recitation of prayers for nine days
  • Galician: novena — a recitation of prayers for nine days
  • German: Novene — a recitation of prayers for nine days
  • Indonesian: novena — a recitation of prayers for nine days
  • Italian: novena — a recitation of prayers for nine days
  • Japanese: ノベナ — a recitation of prayers for nine days
  • Latin: novēna — a recitation of prayers for nine days
  • Lithuanian: devýndienis — a recitation of prayers for nine days
  • Lithuanian: novenà — a recitation of prayers for nine days
  • Manx: padjer nuy laa — a recitation of prayers for nine days
  • Polish: nowenna — a recitation of prayers for nine days
  • Portuguese: novena — a recitation of prayers for nine days
  • Spanish: novena — a recitation of prayers for nine days
  • Tagalog: pagsisiyam — a recitation of prayers for nine days
  • Tagalog: nobena — a recitation of prayers for nine days