How to Say "allegiance" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “allegiance” is “fidelidad” — use 'fidelidad' when referring to a general sense of loyalty, often to something abstract like a country, a cause, or even an animal's devotion.
fidelidad
fee-deh-lee-DAHDfi.ðe.liˈðað
Examples
El soldado juró fidelidad a su patria.
The soldier swore allegiance to his homeland.
El perro es un símbolo de fidelidad.
The dog is a symbol of loyalty.
La fidelidad es la base de un matrimonio feliz.
Faithfulness is the foundation of a happy marriage.
Los empleados mostraron su fidelidad a la empresa durante la crisis.
The employees showed their loyalty to the company during the crisis.
Identifying Gender
Words ending in '-dad' are almost always feminine in Spanish, so you use 'la' and 'una'.
Using 'a' after Fidelidad
When you want to say who you are loyal 'to', use the preposition 'a'. For example: 'fidelidad a sus amigos'.
Loyalty Cards
Mistake: “Tengo una tarjeta de fidelidad.”
Correction: Tengo una tarjeta de fidelización (o tarjeta de puntos).
lealtad
lay-ahl-TAHDle.alˈtað
Examples
La lealtad a la corona era un deber sagrado.
Allegiance to the crown was a sacred duty.
La lealtad de un perro a su dueño es asombrosa.
A dog's loyalty to its owner is amazing.
Puso a prueba su lealtad al pedirle que guardara el secreto.
He tested her loyalty by asking her to keep the secret.
Jurar lealtad a la bandera es un acto solemne.
To swear allegiance to the flag is a solemn act.
Always Feminine
Remember that 'lealtad' is a feminine noun, so you must always use the feminine articles: 'la lealtad' or 'una lealtad'.
Using 'de' instead of 'a'
Mistake: “Lealtad de la empresa.”
Correction: Lealtad a la empresa. (Loyalty to the company). Spanish generally uses the preposition 'a' (to) when specifying the target of the loyalty.
Fidelidad vs. Lealtad
Related Translations
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