soborno
/so-BOR-no/
bribe
Soborno can refer to the bribe itself, such as money handed over in secret.
soborno(noun)
bribe
?the money or gift given
,bribery
?the act of giving a bribe
payoff
?informal context for illegal payment
,kickback
?illegal payment in return for help
📝 In Action
El empresario fue arrestado por ofrecer un soborno al policía.
B2The businessman was arrested for offering a bribe to the police officer.
Hay leyes muy estrictas contra el soborno en este país.
B2There are very strict laws against bribery in this country.
💡 Grammar Points
Using the word as a thing
As a noun, 'soborno' is masculine. Use it with 'un' (a) or 'el' (the) to talk about the actual money or gift being offered.
❌ Common Pitfalls
The thing vs. The action
Mistake: "Using 'soborno' when you mean 'to bribe'."
Correction: Use 'soborno' for the money itself, but use 'sobornar' for the action of giving it.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs Informal
In many Latin American countries, people use the word 'mordida' (literally 'a bite') for a small bribe to an official, while 'soborno' sounds more serious or legal.
As a verb, soborno means 'I bribe,' representing the act of giving a gift to influence someone.
soborno(verb)
I bribe
?Present tense, first person
I am bribing
?Ongoing action in the present
📝 In Action
Yo no soborno a nadie; prefiero seguir las reglas.
B2I don't bribe anyone; I prefer to follow the rules.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'I' form
In Spanish, the word 'soborno' is exactly how you say 'I bribe.' It looks just like the noun, but the context of the sentence will tell you which one is being used.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: soborno
Question 1 of 2
Which of these is the best translation for 'El juez rechazó el soborno'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'soborno' always a bad thing?
Yes, 'soborno' always implies an illegal or unethical payment to influence someone's behavior. It is never used for a legitimate tip or gift.
What's the difference between 'soborno' and 'cohecho'?
'Soborno' is the general word used by everyone. 'Cohecho' is the specific legal term used by lawyers and in courtrooms.