How to Say "retaliation" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “retaliation” is “revancha” — use 'revancha' when the retaliation is a response to a previous action, often implying a desire to 'get even' or settle a score, not necessarily for a serious wrong..
revancha
/reh-BAHN-chah//reˈβant͡ʃa/
Examples
Buscó revancha por la humillación sufrida.
He sought revenge for the humiliation suffered.
No lo hizo por maldad, sino por revancha.
He didn't do it out of malice, but for revenge.
Su éxito fue la mejor revancha contra sus críticos.
Her success was the best revenge against her critics.
El guerrero juró revancha por la traición recibida.
The warrior swore revenge for the betrayal he received.
Action vs. Noun
Remember that 'revancha' is the thing (the noun). If you want to say 'to get revenge,' use the phrase 'tomarse la revancha'.
Confusing with 'Return'
Mistake: “Using 'revancha' to mean a physical return of an object.”
Correction: Use 'devolución' for returning objects. 'Revancha' is only about returning a defeat or a bad deed.
venganza
/veng-AHN-sah//beŋˈɡanθa/
Examples
La vieja herida alimentaba su deseo de venganza.
The old wound fueled his desire for revenge.
El pirata planeó su venganza por años.
The pirate planned his revenge for years.
Ella sintió una sed de venganza después de la traición.
She felt a thirst for vengeance after the betrayal.
No creo que la venganza resuelva nada.
I don't believe that revenge solves anything.
Gender Check
Remember that 'venganza' is always a feminine word, so you must use 'la venganza' or 'una venganza'.
Using the wrong verb
Mistake: “Hacer venganza (to make revenge)”
Correction: Use 'tomar venganza' (to take revenge) or 'buscar venganza' (to seek revenge). The phrase 'hacer venganza' is not used.
represalia
/re-pre-SA-lya//repreˈsalja/
Examples
El gobierno advirtió que habría represalias si el ataque se repetía.
The government warned there would be reprisals if the attack was repeated.
El país vecino prometió tomar represalias por el ataque.
The neighboring country promised to take reprisals for the attack.
Muchos testigos no hablan por temor a las represalias.
Many witnesses do not speak for fear of retaliation.
La empresa despidió al empleado como represalia por la huelga.
The company fired the employee as retaliation for the strike.
Usually plural
While 'represalia' exists in singular, it is almost always used in its plural form 'represalias' when talking about actions taken against someone.
Used with 'tomar'
In Spanish, you don't 'do' or 'make' a reprisal; you 'take' it using the verb 'tomar'.
Confusing with 'venganza'
Mistake: “Using 'represalia' for a small personal argument.”
Correction: Use 'represalia' for formal contexts (work, politics, war). Use 'venganza' for personal or emotional revenge.
Choosing between 'revancha' and 'venganza'
Related Translations
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