reprimido
“reprimido” means “repressed” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
repressed
Also: bottled up, inhibited
📝 In Action
Él es un hombre muy reprimido que nunca muestra su tristeza.
B1He is a very repressed man who never shows his sadness.
Tenía un deseo reprimido de viajar por todo el mundo.
B2She had a bottled-up desire to travel all over the world.
A veces, los sentimientos reprimidos pueden salir de forma explosiva.
C1Sometimes, repressed feelings can come out in an explosive way.
suppressed
Also: quelled
📝 In Action
El movimiento estudiantil fue duramente reprimido.
B2The student movement was harshly suppressed.
Un pueblo reprimido siempre buscará su libertad.
C1A suppressed people will always seek their freedom.
La risa reprimida se escuchó en toda la biblioteca.
C2The suppressed laughter was heard throughout the library.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: reprimido
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence describes someone's personality?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'reprimere,' which means to 'press back' or 'check.' It is made of 're-' (back) and 'premere' (to press).
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'reprimido' always a bad thing?
Generally, yes. It usually implies that something natural (like an emotion or a right) is being forced down in an unhealthy or unfair way.
What's the difference between 'reprimido' and 'tímido'?
A shy person (tímido) feels nervous around others. A repressed person (reprimido) is specifically struggling with internal emotions or desires they don't allow themselves to feel or show.
Can I use it for objects?
Usually no. It is almost always used for people, their emotions, or social actions like protests.