Inklingo
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obligación

/oh-blee-gah-SYOHN/

obligation

A small character struggling slightly while carrying a single, large, heavy wooden block on their back, symbolizing a duty or requirement.

This image illustrates the concept of obligación as a duty or requirement, represented by the heavy burden.

obligación(noun)

fA2

obligation

?

a duty or requirement

,

duty

?

a moral or legal responsibility

Also:

responsibility

?

what you are expected to do

,

commitment

?

a promise to do something

📝 In Action

Pagar los impuestos es una obligación legal para todos.

A2

Paying taxes is a legal obligation for everyone.

Siento la obligación de ayudar a mi familia en este momento difícil.

B1

I feel the duty to help my family during this difficult time.

No tienes ninguna obligación de venir si no quieres.

A2

You don't have any obligation to come if you don't want to.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • cumplir una obligación – to fulfill an obligation
  • sentir una obligación – to feel a sense of duty
  • obligación moral – moral obligation

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'tener' vs. 'ser'

Use 'Tener la obligación' (to have the obligation) when talking about a person. Use 'Ser una obligación' (to be an obligation) when talking about the thing itself (e.g., 'It is a duty').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Pronouncing the 'c'

Mistake: "Pronouncing the 'c' like an 's' in Spain (oblisasión)."

Correction: In Spain, the 'c' before 'i' or 'e' sounds like the 'th' in 'think'. In Latin America, it sounds like an 's'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Stronger than 'deber'

'Obligación' is stronger and more formal than 'deber' (duty). It suggests a non-negotiable requirement, often legal or contractual.

A rolled-up parchment scroll secured with a red wax seal, lying beside a small stack of gold coins, representing a financial bond or debt instrument.

In finance, obligación refers to a bond, depicted here as a valuable, sealed document.

obligación(noun)

fB2

bond

?

financial security/debt instrument

Also:

security

?

financial market term

,

debenture

?

unsecured bond

📝 In Action

El gobierno emitió nuevas obligaciones para financiar el proyecto.

B2

The government issued new bonds to finance the project.

Invertir en obligaciones corporativas puede ser menos riesgoso que en acciones.

C1

Investing in corporate bonds can be less risky than in stocks.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • bono (bond (general term))
  • título (security/title)

Common Collocations

  • obligaciones del Estado – government bonds
  • mercado de obligaciones – bond market

💡 Grammar Points

Plural Use

When talking about financial instruments, 'obligación' is almost always used in the plural: 'las obligaciones'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Context is Key

If you hear 'obligaciones' in a conversation about finance or investing, it almost certainly refers to 'bonds,' not personal duties.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: obligación

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'obligación' in its financial sense?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

obligar(to force/oblige) - verb
obligatorio(mandatory/compulsory) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'obligación' y 'responsabilidad'?

While similar, 'obligación' often refers to a specific, mandatory requirement (like a law or contract). 'Responsabilidad' (responsibility) is a broader term for general duties or accountability for an action.

If I want to say 'I have to do this,' should I use 'obligación'?

Not usually. For 'I have to do this,' use the verb 'tener que' (Tengo que hacer esto). You only use the noun 'obligación' when you want to emphasize the formal requirement itself (Tengo la obligación de hacer esto).