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How to Say "exempt" in Spanish

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exento

ek-SEN-tohekˈsento

adjectiveB2legal or official duty
Use 'exento' when something is officially or legally free from a specific duty, tax, or obligation.
A bird flying freely away from an open golden cage.

Examples

Este producto está exento de impuestos.

This product is exempt from taxes.

Los mejores estudiantes quedaron exentos del examen final.

The best students were excused from the final exam.

Su posición lo deja exento de cumplir esa norma.

His position leaves him exempt from following that rule.

The 'De' Connection

This word almost always needs the word 'de' (of/from) right after it to show what you are free from.

Matching the Person

Since this is a describing word, it must match the gender of the person or thing. Use 'exento' for masculine and 'exenta' for feminine.

Missing the 'De'

Mistake: “Estoy exento el examen.”

Correction: Estoy exento del examen. You must use 'de' to connect the word to the thing you are excused from.

Confusing with 'Libre'

Mistake: “Soy exento el fin de semana.”

Correction: Estoy libre el fin de semana. Use 'exento' for official rules or duties, not for having free time.

liberado

lee-beh-RAH-dohli.βeˈɾa.ðo

adjectiveB1tax or duty
Use 'liberado' when referring to something or someone that has been freed or released from a tax or duty, often implying a prior state of being subject to it.
A small, brightly colored bird flying out of a simple open cage and soaring into a clear blue sky.

Examples

El rehén fue liberado después de las negociaciones.

The hostage was freed after the negotiations.

Ella se sentía liberada de sus viejas responsabilidades.

She felt released from her old responsibilities.

Hemos liberado espacio en el disco duro.

We have freed up space on the hard drive.

Gender and Number Agreement

As an adjective, 'liberado' must match the person or thing it describes: 'El niño liberado' (m. singular), 'La niña liberada' (f. singular), 'Los niños liberados' (m. plural), 'Las niñas liberadas' (f. plural).

Used with 'Estar' or 'Ser'

Use 'ser' (es liberado) to describe the action of being freed, or 'estar' (está liberado) to describe the resulting state of being free.

Confusing Adjective vs. Action

Mistake: “Using 'ser' when describing a temporary state, e.g., 'El disco es liberado' (The disk is freed [permanently]).”

Correction: Use 'estar' for a current, resulting state: 'El disco está liberado' (The disk is now free of files).

inmune

een-MOO-nehinˈmune

adjectiveB2legally free from an obligation or punishment
Use 'inmune' when someone is legally free from an obligation, punishment, or is unaffected by something, like criticism.
A calm, smiling person walking through a chaotic scene of flying papers and swirling wind.

Examples

Él es inmune a las críticas de los demás.

He is unaffected by others' criticism.

Los diplomáticos son inmunes a ciertas leyes locales.

Diplomats are exempt from certain local laws.

Nadie es inmune al paso del tiempo.

No one is immune to the passage of time.

Abstract protection

Just like the medical meaning, this uses the word 'a' to show what you aren't affected by (e.g., 'inmune a los insultos').

Confusing 'inmune' with 'seguro'

Mistake: “Estoy inmune en mi casa.”

Correction: Estoy seguro en mi casa. ('Inmune' means you can't be affected or caught by something, not that you are physically 'safe' from danger.)

franco

frán-koˈfɾaŋ.ko

adjectiveC1from charges
Use 'franco' specifically when referring to a 'free zone' where trade is exempt from customs duties or tariffs.
A storybook illustration of a wrapped box package floating easily in the air, passing over a closed customs barrier gate without needing to stop, symbolizing freedom from duty.

Examples

La zona franca permite el comercio sin pagar aranceles.

The free zone allows trade without paying tariffs.

Este tipo de envío es franco de porte, lo que significa que el remitente paga el costo.

This type of shipment is carriage paid, meaning the sender pays the cost.

Formal Usage

This meaning of 'franco' is often combined with prepositions like 'de' ('franco de porte' or 'franco de gastos') to indicate what the item is free FROM.

Exento vs. Liberado

Learners often confuse 'exento' and 'liberado' when talking about taxes or duties. 'Exento' implies a permanent or inherent state of being free, while 'liberado' suggests a release from a previous obligation.

Related Translations

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