A small child in a cape standing tall on a mountain peak looking at the horizon.

valentía

bah-len-TEE-ah

nounfB1

bravery?showing no fear in dangerous situations,courage?mental or moral strength to face difficulty

Also:valor?bravery in battle or high-stakes situations,gallantry?heroic or polite bravery

📝 In Action

Tuvo la valentía de admitir su error delante de todos.

He had the courage to admit his mistake in front of everyone.

Los bomberos demostraron una gran valentía en el rescate.

The firefighters showed great bravery during the rescue.

Se necesita valentía para seguir tus sueños.

It takes bravery to follow your dreams.

Word Connections

Synonyms

coraje (courage/guts)
valor (valor/bravery)
denuedo (boldness)

Antonyms

cobardía (cowardice)
miedo (fear)
timidez (shyness)

Common Collocations

tener la valentía de – to have the courage to
armarse de valentía – to pluck up courage
un acto de valentía – an act of bravery

Idioms & Expressions

armarse de valentía – To gather up your courage before doing something scary.

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

Since this word ends in '-ía,' it is a feminine naming word. You should always use it with 'la,' 'una,' or 'mucha' (la valentía).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'valentía' to describe someone

Mistake: "Él es muy valentía."

Correction: Say 'Él es muy valiente' (He is very brave). Use 'valentía' for the quality itself, and 'valiente' to describe the person.

⭐ Usage Tips

Valentía vs. Coraje

In many Spanish-speaking countries, 'valentía' is purely about bravery. 'Coraje' can also mean 'bravery,' but be careful—in places like Mexico or Argentina, it can also mean 'anger'!

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: valentía

Question 1 of 1

Which of these is the correct way to say 'He has a lot of courage'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

valiente(brave) - adjective

valientemente(bravely) - adverb

valer(to be worth) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'valentía' for moral bravery?

Yes! It works for both physical bravery (like saving someone from a fire) and moral bravery (like telling the truth when it is hard).

What is the difference between 'valor' and 'valentía'?

They are very similar. 'Valor' is often used in more formal or poetic contexts (like 'honor and valor'), while 'valentía' is the standard word used in everyday life.