Inklingo

How to Say "prejudice" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “prejudice” is “prejuicio” — use 'prejuicio' when referring to a preconceived, often negative, opinion or judgment about someone or something before having sufficient knowledge or experience.

English → Spanish

prejuicio

pre-HWEE-syohpɾeˈxwisjo

nounB1general
Use 'prejuicio' when referring to a preconceived, often negative, opinion or judgment about someone or something before having sufficient knowledge or experience.
A storybook illustration of a group of children playing together while one child stands alone behind a fence, looking sad because they are being excluded.

Examples

No debemos tener prejuicios contra las personas que no conocemos.

We shouldn't have prejudices against people we don't know.

Es difícil dejar de lado nuestros prejuicios personales.

It is hard to set aside our personal biases.

La película rompe con los prejuicios sociales de la época.

The movie breaks with the social prejudices of the time.

Always Masculine

Even though it ends in 'o', remember to always use masculine words with it, like 'un prejuicio' or 'el prejuicio'.

Using it with Verbs

In Spanish, we usually say someone 'has' prejudices (tener prejuicios) or 'acts' based on them, similar to English.

The 'Perjuicio' Trap

Mistake: “Using 'perjuicio' when you mean 'bias'.”

Correction: Use 'prejuicio' for opinions. 'Perjuicio' actually means 'harm' or 'damage'. They sound very similar!

discriminación

nounB1general
Choose 'discriminación' when the meaning is about the act of treating someone unfairly or excluding them based on their race, gender, age, or other characteristics.

Examples

La discriminación por edad es un problema en muchas empresas.

Age discrimination is a problem in many companies.

lesiones

leh-see-OH-nessle'sjo.nes

nounC1formal
Use 'lesiones' in a formal context to describe harm or detriment, especially when referring to violations of rights or damage caused by an action or decision.
A cracked ceramic piggy bank with coins spilling out onto a surface, symbolizing financial loss or damages.

Examples

La sentencia condenó a la empresa por las lesiones a los derechos laborales.

The ruling condemned the company for the violations of labor rights.

Se demostraron lesiones morales graves causadas por la difamación.

Serious moral damages caused by the defamation were proven.

Abstract Use

In legal language, 'lesiones' means harm done to abstract things like rights, reputation, or honor, not just physical bodies.

Prejuicio vs. Discriminación

Learners often confuse 'prejuicio' and 'discriminación'. Remember that 'prejuicio' is the internal, often unexpressed, bias or opinion, while 'discriminación' is the external, observable action of unfair treatment.

Related Translations

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