conciencia
/kon-SYEN-see-ah/
conscience
Conciencia refers to your inner moral sense, or your conscience.
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Noun
Even though it starts with 'con-' and ends in '-a', remember that 'conciencia' is always a feminine noun, using 'la' or 'una'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Spelling
Mistake: "Writing 'concienca' (missing the second 'i')."
Correction: It must have the 'ci' sound twice: 'con-cien-cia'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Acting on Principle
To say you are doing something based on your moral judgment, use the phrase 'en conciencia'.
The second meaning of conciencia is awareness, or having knowledge of a situation or fact.
conciencia(noun)
awareness
?knowledge of a situation or fact
,consciousness
?state of being awake or responsive
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.
💡 Grammar Points
Taking Action
The verb 'tomar' (to take) is commonly used with 'conciencia' to mean 'to become aware' or 'to realize a serious situation'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong verb
Mistake: "Saying 'hacer conciencia' to mean 'become aware'."
Correction: Always use 'tomar conciencia' or 'adquirir conciencia' (to acquire awareness).
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Informal
This meaning is often used in formal discussions about social issues, politics, or deep personal understanding.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: conciencia
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'conciencia' to mean 'awareness'?
📚 More Resources
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.