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violencia

byo-LEN-sya

nounfB1
violence?physical or psychological harm,force?when referring to aggressive action or pressure
Also:intensity?of a natural phenomenon like a storm,abuse?when referring to systemic or domestic harm

📝 In Action

La policía actuó con violencia para dispersar la manifestación.

B1

The police acted with violence to disperse the demonstration.

Hay que combatir la violencia de género con educación y leyes estrictas.

B2

Gender violence must be fought with education and strict laws.

La violencia de la tormenta causó daños severos en la costa.

C1

The intensity of the storm caused severe damage on the coast.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • agresión (aggression)
  • fuerza (force)
  • abuso (abuse)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ejercer violencia – to use/exert violence
  • violencia doméstica – domestic violence
  • acto de violencia – act of violence

💡 Grammar Points

Feminine Noun Rule

Even though it ends in '-a', remember 'violencia' is a feminine noun, so you must use the feminine article 'la' or adjectives that end in '-a' with it.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender Error

Mistake: "El violencia"

Correction: La violencia. Remember abstract nouns ending in '-cia' are almost always feminine.

⭐ Usage Tips

Describing the Type of Violence

To be specific, Spanish often uses adjectives or prepositions: 'violencia física' (physical violence), 'violencia verbal' (verbal violence), or 'violencia contra las mujeres' (violence against women).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: violencia

Question 1 of 2

¿Cuál es la traducción más común de 'violencia' cuando se habla de un ataque físico?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

violento(violent (adjective)) - adjective
violentamente(violently (adverb)) - adverb
violar(to violate) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'violencia' always about physical aggression?

No. While its primary meaning is physical aggression, 'violencia' is often used in Spanish to describe psychological abuse ('violencia psicológica'), systemic oppression ('violencia estructural'), or the extreme intensity of things like storms or emotions.

How do I know when to use 'violencia' versus 'fuerza'?

'Fuerza' is neutral and means 'strength' or 'power' (e.g., the strength of a team). 'Violencia' always implies aggressive, destructive, or abusive action, making it a negative concept.