Inklingo

How to Say "criticism" in Spanish

English → Spanish

crítica

nounB1general
Use 'crítica' when referring to the general act of judging or evaluating something or someone, often in a negative way, or the negative judgment itself.

Examples

Recibió mucha crítica por su decisión de renunciar.

She received a lot of criticism for her decision to resign.

reproche

/reh-PRO-cheh//reˈpɾotʃe/

nounB1general
Use 'reproche' when the criticism specifically involves pointing out a fault, mistake, or wrongdoing, often with a tone of disapproval or blame.
A child looking down at the floor while an adult points a finger in a gesture of mild scolding.

Examples

No acepto tu reproche.

I don't accept your criticism.

Ella aceptó el error sin ningún reproche.

She accepted the mistake without any reproach.

Sus palabras eran un reproche constante por mi falta de tiempo.

His words were a constant criticism of my lack of time.

Word Gender

This word is masculine. Even though many words ending in 'e' can be confusing, always use 'el' or 'un' with 'reproche'.

Pairing with Verbs

In Spanish, you don't usually just 'reproach' as a single verb action in common speech; instead, you 'make a reproach' using the word 'hacer'.

Using the wrong gender

Mistake: “La reproche me dolió.”

Correction: El reproche me dolió. (Reproche is always masculine.)

Crítica vs. Reproche

Learners often confuse 'crítica' and 'reproche' because both can imply negativity. Remember that 'reproche' is more specific, focusing on the act of calling out a fault, while 'crítica' is broader and can refer to any negative evaluation or judgment.

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