Inklingo

How to Say "kickback" in Spanish

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mordida

mor-DEE-dahmoɾˈðiða

nounB2informal
Use 'mordida' when referring to an illegal payment or bribe, often to a public official, to overlook an offense or expedite a process.
A hand discreetly passing a stack of folded paper money to another hand under a wooden table.

Examples

El policía aceptó una mordida para no poner la multa.

The police officer accepted a bribe to not issue the ticket.

El oficial le pidió una mordida para evitar la multa.

The officer asked him for a bribe to avoid the fine.

Aquí no aceptamos mordidas.

We don't accept bribes here.

La corrupción y la mordida son problemas graves.

Corruption and bribery are serious problems.

The Logic of the Slang

This meaning comes from the idea of the official taking a 'bite' out of your money or the transaction.

Formal Contexts

Mistake: “El político fue arrestado por una mordida.”

Correction: El político fue arrestado por soborno.

soborno

so-BOR-nosoˈβoɾno

nounB2formal
Use 'soborno' for a more general term for a bribe or illegal payment made to influence someone's actions, especially in business or politics.
A hand secretly passing a thick envelope to another person under a wooden table.

Examples

El soborno a funcionarios públicos es un delito grave.

Bribing public officials is a serious crime.

El empresario fue arrestado por ofrecer un soborno al policía.

The businessman was arrested for offering a bribe to the police officer.

Hay leyes muy estrictas contra el soborno en este país.

There are very strict laws against bribery in this country.

Using the word as a thing

As a noun, 'soborno' is masculine. Use it with 'un' (a) or 'el' (the) to talk about the actual money or gift being offered.

The thing vs. The action

Mistake: “Using 'soborno' when you mean 'to bribe'.”

Correction: Use 'soborno' for the money itself, but use 'sobornar' for the action of giving it.

retroceso

rreh-troh-SEH-sohretɾoˈθeso

nounB2
Use 'retroceso' specifically for the physical recoil or backward movement of an object, such as a gun after being fired.
A wooden toy cannon jumping backward after firing a puff of smoke.

Examples

Siente el retroceso del arma al disparar.

Feel the weapon's recoil when you shoot.

Esta escopeta tiene mucho retroceso.

This shotgun has a lot of recoil.

El muelle evita el retroceso de la pieza.

The spring prevents the part from moving backward.

Sentí el retroceso del motor al apagarse.

I felt the kickback of the engine when it turned off.

Describing Physical Actions

When talking about physical recoil, this word usually stays singular even if the action happens many times.

Misusing 'Retroceso' for Driving

Mistake: “Puse el coche en retroceso.”

Correction: Puse el coche en marcha atrás.

Bribe vs. Recoil

The most common mistake is confusing the terms for bribes ('mordida', 'soborno') with the term for physical recoil ('retroceso'). Remember that 'mordida' and 'soborno' relate to illegal payments, while 'retroceso' is about physical movement.

Related Translations

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