Inklingo

How to Say "ethics" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “ethics” is “ética” — use 'ética' when referring to the academic discipline that studies morality or a professional code of conduct and values.

English → Spanish

ética

nounB1general
Use 'ética' when referring to the academic discipline that studies morality or a professional code of conduct and values.

Examples

La ética es una rama de la filosofía que estudia la conducta humana.

Ethics is a branch of philosophy that studies human behavior.

principios

preen-SEE-pee-ohspɾinˈθipjos

nounB1general
Use 'principios' to refer to a person's fundamental moral beliefs or values that guide their actions, often translated as 'principles'.
A sturdy, brightly lit lighthouse standing firmly on a rocky cliff, shining a strong beam of light over a calm, dark sea, symbolizing guidance.

Examples

Es un hombre de firmes principios.

He is a man of firm principles.

Su decisión va en contra de todos mis principios.

Their decision goes against all my values.

Debemos aprender los principios básicos de la programación.

We must learn the basic fundamentals of programming.

Always Plural for Ethics

When talking about a person’s moral code or values, 'principios' is almost always used in the plural form.

Confusing Singular and Plural Meanings

Mistake: “El principio de la física. (Using singular when referring to multiple fundamentals.)”

Correction: Los principios de la física. (Use plural when referring to the established rules of a system.)

moralidad

mo-rah-lee-dahdmoɾaliˈðad

nounB2general
Use 'moralidad' to discuss societal or professional standards of right and wrong behavior, particularly in a broader, more abstract sense.
A child helping an elderly person cross the street, showing kindness and ethical behavior.

Examples

Muchos se preocupan por la moralidad de la inteligencia artificial.

Many people worry about the morality of artificial intelligence.

Sus acciones demostraron una falta de moralidad.

His actions showed a lack of morality.

La moralidad varía entre diferentes culturas del mundo.

Morality varies among different cultures in the world.

The '-dad' Ending

Words ending in '-dad' are almost always feminine. Always use 'la' or 'una' with this word.

Using the Article

Unlike English, Spanish usually uses 'la' before 'moralidad' when talking about it as a general concept. Example: 'La moralidad es importante' (Morality is important).

Gender Error

Mistake: “El moralidad es necesaria.”

Correction: La moralidad es necesaria. (Because it ends in -dad, it is feminine.)

Confusing with 'Moral'

Mistake: “Me preocupa su moralidad de trabajo.”

Correction: Me preocupa su ética de trabajo. (Use 'moralidad' for general right/wrong; use 'ética' for professional settings or 'moral' for mood/spirit.)

moral

moh-RAHLmoˈɾal

nounB2general
Use 'moral' to refer to the lesson or underlying message of a story, fable, or event, essentially its 'moral of the story'.
A wide, clear, stone path leading straight through a simple, green landscape toward a distant, glowing source of light, symbolizing a guiding ethical system.

Examples

La moral de la fábula es que la honestidad es la mejor política.

The moral of the fable is that honesty is the best policy.

Estudiamos la moral y las costumbres de esa época.

We studied the morality and customs of that era.

Abstract Noun

When referring to the general concept of right and wrong (morality), 'moral' acts as a feminine noun ('la moral').

Distinguishing 'ética' from 'moralidad'

Learners often confuse 'ética' and 'moralidad'. Remember that 'ética' is frequently used for the academic study of ethics or a specific professional code, while 'moralidad' refers more broadly to accepted standards of conduct in society or a group.

Related Translations

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