spiritual
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spiritual
Related to the spirit, soul, or inner life of a person, often in contrast to the material. It can refer to religion, philosophy, or personal reflection.
Nach dem stressigen Jahr suchte sie nach einer spirituellen Erfahrung in einem Kloster.
After the stressful year, she sought a spiritual experience in a monastery.
ecclesiastical / spiritual
Church-related or clerical in the sense of a religious institution. This meaning is rarer and more formal.
Der Bischof hat sowohl weltliche als auch spirituelle Macht.
The bishop had both secular and spiritual power.
The word 'spirituell' (spiritual) derives from the Latin 'spiritus', meaning 'spirit' or 'breath'. This origin helps you understand the core meaning, which always relates to the mental, spiritual, or emotional inner life.
Yoga ist für viele Menschen eine spirituelle Praxis.
Yoga is a spiritual practice for many people.
In its main meaning, 'spirituell' (spiritual) is often combined with abstract nouns. Typical phrases are 'eine spirituelle Suche' (a spiritual search), 'eine spirituelle Erfahrung' (a spiritual experience), or 'ein spiritueller Weg' (a spiritual path).
Er befindet sich auf einer spirituellen Reise, um sich selbst zu finden.
He is on a spiritual journey to find himself.
You can recognize the rarer meaning 'kirchlich' (church-related/ecclesiastical) from the context. It often appears in formal texts about religion or history, frequently as a contrast to 'weltlich' (secular).
Im Mittelalter war die spirituelle Autorität der Kirche unangefochten.
In the Middle Ages, the spiritual authority of the Church was uncontested.
religious
Religiös and spirituell can both describe an inner or religious orientation. Religiös points more strongly to a religion and its beliefs, while spirituell can also refer to personal reflection outside an institutional religion. Use religiös when there is a clear connection to religion, and spirituell when someone is personally seeking inner peace.
Sie sucht durch tägliche Meditation spirituelle Ruhe.
She seeks spiritual peace through daily meditation.
Sie führt ein religiöses Leben und besucht regelmäßig den Gottesdienst.
She leads a religious life and regularly attends worship services.
