violó
/bee-oh-LOH/
violated
When someone violó a rule, they broke it, like crossing a forbidden line.
violó(Verb)
violated
?broke a rule or law
,infringed
?broke a right or agreement
breached
?a contract or security
,disregarded
?a boundary or instruction
📝 In Action
El conductor violó la señal de alto y causó un accidente.
B1The driver violated the stop sign and caused an accident.
La empresa violó el contrato al no pagar a tiempo.
B2The company breached the contract by not paying on time.
El periodista alegó que el gobierno violó su privacidad.
C1The journalist alleged that the government infringed upon his privacy.
💡 Grammar Points
Past Action Completed
Since 'violó' is in the preterite tense, it describes a single action that was completed entirely in the past, like finishing a race or crossing a line.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Contexts
This meaning is typically used in formal or serious discussions, such as politics, law, or contracts. For simple rule-breaking, a verb like 'rompió' (he/she broke) might be used instead.
Violó can tragically refer to the violation of a person's body or autonomy through sexual assault.
📝 In Action
El acusado violó a la víctima la noche del crimen.
C1The accused raped the victim on the night of the crime.
La sentencia confirmó que él violó a varias mujeres.
C2The sentence confirmed that he sexually assaulted several women.
💡 Grammar Points
Direct Past Tense
As the preterite form, 'violó' focuses on the single moment the action occurred and finished, contrasting with the imperfect tense which would describe an ongoing situation or habit in the past.
⭐ Usage Tips
Sensitive Language
Because of this serious meaning, be careful to use 'violar' only when the context is clearly about breaking rules (Definition 1). When discussing sexual assault, using the more specific phrase 'agredir sexualmente' (to sexually assault) is often preferred in formal discourse.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
imperfect
present
preterite
subjunctive
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: violó
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'violó' in the sense of 'breaking a legal agreement'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the base form (infinitive) of 'violó'?
The base form is 'violar.' This is a regular verb ending in -ar.
Is 'violó' a common word?
Yes, especially in news, legal, and formal settings. It is used to describe serious actions, whether they involve breaking laws, contracts, or personal boundaries.