Inklingo

How to Say "to bribe" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to bribe” is “sobornar” — use 'sobornar' when you want to express the general act of offering money or favors in exchange for an illegal or unethical action, like getting past a guard..

sobornar🔊B1

Use 'sobornar' when you want to express the general act of offering money or favors in exchange for an illegal or unethical action, like getting past a guard.

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comprar🔊B2

Use 'comprar' when the act of bribing is framed as 'buying' a specific outcome or favor, often implying a transaction for a desired result, like influencing a judge's decision.

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corromper🔊B2

Use 'corromper' when the focus is on the act of making someone dishonest or unethical through the offer of money or favors, highlighting the moral decay involved, such as a businessman corrupting a judge.

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untar🔊C1

Use 'untar' for the informal and often secret act of giving money to someone, usually an official, to expedite a process or gain a favor, implying a 'greasing the wheels' type of bribe.

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English → Spanish

sobornar

/so-bor-NAHR//soβoɾˈnaɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'sobornar' when you want to express the general act of offering money or favors in exchange for an illegal or unethical action, like getting past a guard.
One person discreetly handing a thick envelope to another person in a shadowy hallway.

Examples

Intentó sobornar al guardia para entrar al concierto sin entrada.

He tried to bribe the guard to enter the concert without a ticket.

No puedes sobornar a tus hijos con dulces para que se porten bien.

You can't bribe your children with candy so they behave.

La empresa fue acusada de sobornar a varios políticos.

The company was accused of bribing several politicians.

The 'Person Linker' (Personal A)

Since you usually bribe a person, you need to use a little 'a' before them. For example: 'Sobornar a un policía' (To bribe a police officer).

Using it with 'with'

To say what you are using to bribe someone, use 'con' (with). Example: 'Lo sobornó con dinero'.

Forgetting the 'a'

Mistake: “Él intentó sobornar el testigo.”

Correction: Él intentó sobornar AL testigo. (Because the witness is a person, we combine 'a' and 'el' to make 'al'.)

comprar

/kom-prar//komˈpɾaɾ/

verbB2general
Use 'comprar' when the act of bribing is framed as 'buying' a specific outcome or favor, often implying a transaction for a desired result, like influencing a judge's decision.
Two hands meeting under a table, one hand secretly passing a small, heavy bag of money to the other.

Examples

Intentaron comprar al juez para ganar el caso.

They tried to bribe the judge to win the case.

No puedes comprar su silencio para siempre.

You can't buy his silence forever.

Bribing a Person

When you use 'comprar' to mean 'bribe', you need to put 'a' before the person you are bribing. For example, 'comprar al político' (to bribe the politician).

corromper

/ko-rrohm-PEHR//ko.romˈpeɾ/

verbB2general
Use 'corromper' when the focus is on the act of making someone dishonest or unethical through the offer of money or favors, highlighting the moral decay involved, such as a businessman corrupting a judge.
A hand secretly passing a small bag of gold coins to another hand in the shadows.

Examples

El empresario intentó corromper al juez con una gran suma de dinero.

The businessman tried to bribe the judge with a large sum of money.

Muchos temen que el poder absoluto corrompa a los líderes.

Many fear that absolute power corrupts leaders.

Es fácil corromperse cuando no hay vigilancia.

It is easy to become corrupt when there is no supervision.

Using the reflexive 'se'

When someone becomes corrupt by their own choices or just 'changes' for the worse over time, use 'corromperse' (e.g., 'Él se corrompió').

Action vs. State

Use 'corrompido' for the action in a past tense (He has corrupted), but use 'corrupto' (adjective) to describe the person's character (He is corrupt).

The 'Corrupto' confusion

Mistake: “Él ha corrupto el sistema.”

Correction: Él ha corrompido el sistema. 'Corrupto' is for description, 'corrompido' is for the action.

untar

/oon-TAHR//unˈtaɾ/

verbC1informal
Use 'untar' for the informal and often secret act of giving money to someone, usually an official, to expedite a process or gain a favor, implying a 'greasing the wheels' type of bribe.
A hand secretly passing a stack of green bills to another hand under a wooden table.

Examples

Tuvieron que untar al funcionario para conseguir el permiso.

They had to bribe the official to get the permit.

Slang function

This meaning uses the idea of 'spreading' money to make things move smoothly, similar to 'greasing wheels' in English.

Choosing Between 'Sobornar' and 'Comprar'

Learners often confuse 'sobornar' and 'comprar'. While both can mean 'to bribe', 'sobornar' is the most direct and general translation. 'Comprar' specifically frames the bribe as a purchase, implying you are buying a specific result or decision, so use it when that transactional aspect is key.

Related Translations

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