castigar
punish
Hacer que alguien sufra una pena o reciba una sanción por algo que hizo mal.
Definition & meaning
Castigar means to punish someone for wrongdoing, for example by imposing a penalty or taking away a privilege.
It can also mean to penalize, hurt, or hit hard, especially when describing the effects of hardship or damage.
Grammar & Word origin
Castigar is a regular -ar verb, though its spelling changes from g to gu before e to preserve the hard sound: castigué (“I punished”).
It comes from Latin castigare, meaning “to correct” or “reprimand.”
Synonyms & antonyms
- sancionar — to impose a formal penalty, often under rules or laws.
- penalizar — to penalize, often in legal, sporting, or competitive contexts.
- reprender — to reprimand; it emphasizes verbal disapproval rather than punishment.
- premiar — to reward, an opposite when referring to someone’s behavior.
- perdonar — to forgive; it means letting go of an offense rather than punishing it.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Los padres están considerando castigar a su hijo por su mal comportamiento.verb
The parents are considering punishing their child for his bad behavior.
Los padres castigaron al niño ayer.verb
The parents punished the child yesterday.
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