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castigo

kahs-TEE-gokasˈti.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)

Indicative

Present

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

Imperfect

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

Preterite

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

Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

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

Imperfect Subjunctive

yocastigara / castigase
túcastigaras / castigases
él/ella/ustedcastigara / castigase
nosotroscastigáramos / castigásemos
vosotroscastigarais / castigaseis
ellos/ellas/ustedescastigaran / castigasen
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.