How to Say "morality" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “morality” is “moral” — use 'moral' when referring to the ethical principles or lessons derived from a story, situation, or a person's conduct..
English → Spanish
moral
moh-RAHL/moˈɾal/
nounB2general
Use 'moral' when referring to the ethical principles or lessons derived from a story, situation, or a person's conduct.
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').
ética
nounB1academic/formal
Use 'ética' when discussing the branch of philosophy concerned with moral principles, or when referring to professional standards of conduct.
Examples
La ética es una rama de la filosofía que estudia la conducta humana.
Ethics is a branch of philosophy that studies human behavior.
Moral vs. Ética
Learners often confuse 'moral' and 'ética'. Remember that 'moral' usually refers to a specific lesson or principle, especially from a narrative, while 'ética' is the broader, academic study of morality or professional standards.
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