Inklingo

How to Say "gallantry" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “gallantry” is “valentía” — use 'valentía' when referring to the quality of being brave or courageous, often in the face of danger or difficulty, or the act of showing courage..

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valentía

nounB1general
Use 'valentía' when referring to the quality of being brave or courageous, often in the face of danger or difficulty, or the act of showing courage.

Examples

Tuvo la valentía de admitir su error delante de todos.

He had the courage to admit his mistake in front of everyone.

valor

vah-LOR/baˈloɾ/

nounB1general
Use 'valor' to describe heroic courage or the spirit of bravery, especially when facing significant challenges or danger.
A small child stands bravely and confidently, holding their chin up while facing a very large, non-threatening shadow of a creature in a dimly lit room.

Examples

Necesitas mucho valor para subir esa montaña.

You need a lot of courage to climb that mountain.

Demostró gran valor al ayudar a las víctimas del incendio.

He showed great bravery by helping the fire victims.

La niña tuvo el valor de confesar la verdad.

The girl had the courage to confess the truth.

Using 'Tener'

When you want to say someone 'has courage,' always use the verb 'tener' (to have): 'Tengo valor' (I have courage).

Mixing Adjective/Noun

Mistake: “Soy valor.”

Correction: Soy valiente. (Valor is the noun [courage]; Valiente is the adjective [brave]. You must say 'I am brave' using the adjective.)

Distinguishing 'Valentía' and 'Valor'

Learners often confuse 'valentía' and 'valor' because both mean courage. While 'valentía' focuses more on the demonstration of bravery or the inner quality, 'valor' often implies a more profound or heroic level of courage, especially in challenging situations.

Related Translations

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