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How to Say "freedom" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “freedom” is “libertad” — use 'libertad' for political or social freedom, freedom from captivity, or personal autonomy and the ability to make choices..

English → Spanish

libertad

/lee-behr-TAHD//liβeɾˈtað/

NounB1General
Use 'libertad' for political or social freedom, freedom from captivity, or personal autonomy and the ability to make choices.
A small, vibrant blue bird flying rapidly into a bright blue sky, having just escaped from a simple, open wooden cage sitting on the ground.

Examples

Lucharon por la libertad de su país.

They fought for their country's freedom.

El prisionero recuperó su libertad después de diez años.

The prisoner regained his freedom after ten years.

La libertad de expresión es un derecho fundamental.

Freedom of speech is a fundamental right.

En este trabajo, tengo mucha libertad para organizar mi horario.

In this job, I have a lot of freedom to organize my schedule.

Always Feminine: 'la libertad'

In Spanish, words that end in '-tad' or '-dad' are almost always feminine. So, you'll always say 'la libertad' (the freedom) or 'mucha libertad' (a lot of freedom).

Don't use for 'free time'

Mistake: “No tengo mucha libertad esta tarde.”

Correction: To talk about unscheduled time, use 'tiempo libre'. Say: 'No tengo mucho tiempo libre esta tarde.' (I don't have much free time this afternoon).

libertad

/lee-behr-TAHD//liβeɾˈtað/

NounB2General
Use 'libertad' when talking about personal choice and the absence of external restrictions, especially in contexts like work or daily life.
A small, vibrant blue bird flying rapidly into a bright blue sky, having just escaped from a simple, open wooden cage sitting on the ground.

Examples

En este trabajo, tengo mucha libertad para organizar mi horario.

In this job, I have a lot of freedom to organize my schedule.

Lucharon por la libertad de su país.

They fought for their country's freedom.

El prisionero recuperó su libertad después de diez años.

The prisoner regained his freedom after ten years.

La libertad de expresión es un derecho fundamental.

Freedom of speech is a fundamental right.

Always Feminine: 'la libertad'

In Spanish, words that end in '-tad' or '-dad' are almost always feminine. So, you'll always say 'la libertad' (the freedom) or 'mucha libertad' (a lot of freedom).

Don't use for 'free time'

Mistake: “No tengo mucha libertad esta tarde.”

Correction: To talk about unscheduled time, use 'tiempo libre'. Say: 'No tengo mucho tiempo libre esta tarde.' (I don't have much free time this afternoon).

liberación

NounB2General
Use 'liberación' to describe the feeling of relief or release from a burden, stress, or a difficult situation.

Examples

Sentí una gran liberación al contarle mis problemas.

I felt a great sense of release when I told her my problems.

Libertad vs. Liberación

Learners often confuse 'libertad' and 'liberación'. Remember that 'libertad' is the broader concept of freedom (political, personal choice), while 'liberación' specifically means release or liberation from something negative.

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