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castigo

kahs-TEE-go/kasˈti.ɣo/

“castigo” means “punishment” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

punishment

Also: penalty, chastisement
NounmA2
A small child sitting quietly on a wooden stool in the corner, illustrating a time-out punishment.

📝 In Action

El castigo por llegar tarde fue barrer el patio.

A2

The punishment for being late was sweeping the yard.

La ley establece un castigo severo para ese crimen.

B1

The law establishes a severe penalty for that crime.

No creo que el castigo deba ser físico.

B2

I don't believe the punishment should be physical.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • sanción (sanction, penalty)
  • pena (penalty, sorrow)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • imponer un castigo – to impose a punishment
  • merecer un castigo – to deserve a punishment

I punish

Also: I chastise
VerbA1regular (with minor spelling changes) ar
An adult figure standing sternly, pointing decisively toward a corner, indicating a consequence or punishment.
infinitivecastigar
gerundcastigando
past Participlecastigado

📝 In Action

Yo castigo el mal comportamiento de mis hijos.

A1

I punish the bad behavior of my children.

Si miento, sé que castigo mi conciencia.

B2

If I lie, I know I punish my conscience (I feel guilty).

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • penar (to penalize)
  • reprender (to reprimand)

Antonyms

  • premiar (to reward)
  • felicitar (to congratulate)

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedcastiga
yocastigo
túcastigas
ellos/ellas/ustedescastigan
nosotroscastigamos
vosotroscastigáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedcastigaba
yocastigaba
túcastigabas
ellos/ellas/ustedescastigaban
nosotroscastigábamos
vosotroscastigabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedcastigó
yocastigué
túcastigaste
ellos/ellas/ustedescastigaron
nosotroscastigamos
vosotroscastigasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedcastigue
yocastigue
túcastigues
ellos/ellas/ustedescastiguen
nosotroscastiguemos
vosotroscastiguéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedcastigara / castigase
yocastigara / castigase
túcastigaras / castigases
ellos/ellas/ustedescastigaran / castigasen
nosotroscastigáramos / castigásemos
vosotroscastigarais / castigaseis
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "castigo" in Spanish:

chastisement→i chastise→i punish→penalty→punishment→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: castigo

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'castigo' as a noun (a thing) rather than a verb (an action)?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
castigar(to punish) — Verb
castigador(punisher) — Noun
castigable(punishable) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin verb *castigare*, meaning 'to correct,' 'to set right,' or 'to chastise.' It shares roots with the idea of making something 'chaste' or 'pure' by correcting faults.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: castigoPortuguese: castigo

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'castigo' (noun) and 'castigar' (verb)?

'Castigo' is the concrete result or consequence (the punishment). 'Castigar' is the action of giving that consequence (to punish). Remember that 'castigo' is also the 'I' form of the verb: 'Yo castigo' (I punish).

Is 'castigo' only used for children?

No. While it's often used in family contexts, 'castigo' is widely used for penalties in sports, legal sentences, or consequences for any rule-breaking behavior in formal or informal settings.