rencor

resentment?a deep, lasting feeling of bitterness,grudge?a persistent feeling of ill will

Also:bitterness?emotional sourness or pain,rancor?highly formal synonym

rren-kor

/reŋˈkoɾ/

NounmB2

neutral

A solitary figure with a downturned expression tightly hugging a large, heavy, dark purple rock covered in sharp thorns, symbolizing emotional pain.

📝 In Action

Ella todavía siente rencor por cómo la trataron en ese trabajo.

She still feels resentment over how they treated her at that job.

No puedes vivir feliz si guardas tanto rencor en tu corazón.

You cannot live happily if you hold so much bitterness in your heart.

Después de años, el rencor entre los hermanos se había disipado finalmente.

After years, the grudge between the siblings had finally faded away.

Word Connections

Synonyms

resentimiento (resentment)
amargura (bitterness)
odio (hatred)

Antonyms

perdón (forgiveness)
reconciliación (reconciliation)

Common Collocations

guardar rencor – to hold a grudge
sentir rencor – to feel resentment
sin rencor – without hard feelings

Idioms & Expressions

estar lleno de rencor – to be full of bitterness or spite

💡 Grammar Points

Always Masculine

Even though many abstract nouns ending in '-or' are masculine, remember that 'rencor' always uses the masculine article ('el rencor').

Always Singular

'Rencor' is treated as an uncountable feeling, like 'anger' or 'love.' You almost never use it in the plural form.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the wrong preposition

Mistake: “Tener rencor *a* alguien. (Incorrect use of 'a')”

Correction: Tener rencor *hacia* alguien (or *contra* alguien). Use 'hacia' or 'contra' to show who the negative feeling is directed toward.

⭐ Usage Tips

Expressing the Action

The most natural way to talk about having a grudge is using the verb 'guardar' (to keep/hold): 'No guardes rencor por eso.'

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: rencor

Question 1 of 1

If someone tells you, 'No guardes rencor,' what are they advising you to do?

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Word Family

rencoroso(resentful (adjective)) - Adjective

rencorosamente(resentfully) - Adverb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'rencor' stronger than 'resentimiento'?

Yes, generally 'rencor' is considered a deeper, more profound, and longer-lasting form of bitterness or hostility, often approaching spite. 'Resentimiento' can sometimes describe a more general feeling of being wronged.