The Spanish word for a Day of the Dead offering altar is ofrenda.
An ofrenda is a home or public altar display created to welcome and remember deceased loved ones during Día de Muertos. The Spanish noun literally means “offering,” so it describes both the altar arrangement and the gifts placed there. Depending on regional and family traditions, an ofrenda may include photographs, candles, food, drinks, personal belongings, flowers, and religious images.
Bright orange cempasúchil flowers are commonly arranged around the display, while their petals may be scattered as a pathway. Families often place favorite foods or beverages of the deceased, pan de muerto, sugar skulls, and glasses of water. Candles and incense can provide light, fragrance, and symbolic guidance.
“Ofrenda” is not simply a synonym for any altar in every Spanish-speaking context. In Day of the Dead usage, it emphasizes the offering made to honor the dead. “Altar” describes the structure itself, while “capilla” means chapel and “tumba” means tomb, making those options different objects.