conciencia
“conciencia” means “conscience” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
conscience
Also: sense of right and wrong
📝 In Action
Mi conciencia me dice que debo devolver el dinero que encontré.
B1My conscience tells me I should return the money I found.
Actuó en conciencia, sabiendo que era lo correcto.
B2He acted according to his conscience, knowing it was the right thing.
awareness, consciousness
Also: realization
📝 In Action
El paciente perdió la conciencia después de la caída.
A2The patient lost consciousness after the fall.
Debemos tomar conciencia de la importancia de reciclar.
B2We must become aware (gain awareness) of the importance of recycling.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: conciencia
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'conciencia' to mean 'awareness'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *conscientia*, which literally meant 'knowledge with oneself' or 'being privy to something.' This root gave rise to both the modern sense of moral judgment and the sense of mental awareness.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'conciencia' and 'consciencia'?
In modern Spanish, 'conciencia' (without the 's') is the far more common and accepted spelling for both meanings: your moral sense AND your state of awareness. 'Consciencia' (with the 's') is a less common variant, sometimes preferred in very formal or philosophical texts specifically for the state of being awake, but 'conciencia' covers both meanings for almost all native speakers.
How do I say 'self-awareness'?
You can say 'autoconciencia' (one word) or 'conciencia de sí mismo/a' (awareness of oneself). Both are correct, though 'autoconciencia' is more concise.