violación
/bee-oh-lah-SYOHN/
rape
Violación can refer to sexual assault or rape.
📝 In Action
La policía ha abierto una investigación sobre la violación.
B2The police have opened an investigation into the sexual assault (rape).
Es esencial crear conciencia para prevenir la violación de mujeres y niñas.
C1It is essential to raise awareness to prevent the rape of women and girls.
💡 Grammar Points
A Feminine Noun
Since 'violación' ends in '-ción', it is always a feminine noun. You must use 'la' or 'una' before it: 'la violación'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Contexts
In legal and official documents, 'agresión sexual' is often used alongside 'violación' as the broader term for sexual crimes.
When referring to breaking a rule or law, violación translates to violation.
violación(noun)
violation
?of a rule, law, or right
breach
?of contract or security
,infringement
?of rights or patents
📝 In Action
La violación de los derechos humanos es un problema global.
B2The violation of human rights is a global problem.
El equipo fue penalizado por una violación de las reglas de juego.
C1The team was penalized for a violation of the rules of the game.
Hubo una violación de seguridad en el sistema informático.
C1There was a security breach in the computer system.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'de'
To specify what rule or boundary was broken, you almost always need the preposition 'de' (of) right after 'violación': 'violación de la norma' (violation of the norm).
⭐ Usage Tips
When to use 'infracción'
For minor rule-breaking, like parking tickets or small fines, the word 'infracción' is often preferred over the more serious 'violación'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: violación
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'violación' in the context of breaking a formal agreement?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'violación' the same as 'infracción'?
They are related, but 'violación' is generally much more serious. 'Infracción' is usually used for minor offenses, like a parking ticket or a small fine. 'Violación' is reserved for serious breaches of law, rights (like human rights), or the grave meaning of sexual assault.
How do I know if 'violación' is about sexual assault or breaking a rule?
Context is everything! If the sentence mentions a law, a contract, a treaty, or a border, it usually means 'breach' or 'infringement.' If the sentence mentions a person, a suspect, or a victim, it almost always refers to 'sexual assault' or 'rape'.