coraje
/koh-RAH-heh/
courage
Demonstrating great courage (coraje) and bravery in the face of a challenge.
📝 In Action
Tuvo el coraje de decir la verdad a pesar de las consecuencias.
A2He had the courage to tell the truth despite the consequences.
Se necesita mucho coraje para empezar un negocio desde cero.
B1It takes a lot of bravery to start a business from scratch.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Rule
Even though 'coraje' ends in '-e', it is always a masculine noun, so you must use 'el coraje' or 'un coraje'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Coraje' for Physical Heart
Mistake: "Me duele el coraje. (I have a pain in my courage.)"
Correction: Use 'corazón' for the physical organ: 'Me duele el corazón.' (I have a pain in my heart.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing an Act of Bravery
To talk about a specific act of courage, you can use the phrase 'un acto de coraje'.
Overwhelmed by intense anger (coraje) or fury.
📝 In Action
Le dio mucho coraje que su equipo perdiera el partido.
B1It made him very angry that his team lost the game.
El niño gritó con coraje cuando no le dieron el dulce.
B1The boy yelled in anger when they didn't give him the candy.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Dar Coraje'
To say 'something makes me angry,' use the phrase 'dar coraje,' often structured like 'gustar': 'Me da coraje que...' (It gives me anger that...).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Verb Choice
Mistake: "Estoy coraje. (I am anger.)"
Correction: Use the verb 'tener' (to have) or 'sentir' (to feel): 'Tengo/Siento coraje.' (I have/feel anger.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
In context, it's usually clear whether 'coraje' means bravery or anger. If someone is confronting a threat, it's bravery. If someone is complaining about unfairness, it's anger.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: coraje
Question 1 of 2
Which English translation is correct for the following sentence: 'Me da coraje ver tanta basura en la calle.'
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How can one word mean both 'courage' and 'anger'?
This happens because the original root of 'coraje' is the Latin word for 'heart' (cor). Historically, both intense bravery and intense fury were thought to come from the 'spirit' or 'heart.' The context of the sentence will always make the meaning clear.
Is 'coraje' interchangeable with 'valentía'?
'Coraje' and 'valentía' are perfect synonyms when talking about bravery. However, 'valentía' never means 'anger,' so 'coraje' is the more versatile word.