How to Say "to denounce" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to denounce” is “denunciar” — use 'denunciar' when you want to publicly criticize or condemn something, often in an official capacity or to expose wrongdoing like poor working conditions.
Use 'denunciar' when you want to publicly criticize or condemn something, often in an official capacity or to expose wrongdoing like poor working conditions.
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Use 'atacar' when the denouncement is framed as a strong, direct verbal assault or aggressive criticism against a person, policy, or idea.
Learn more →deh-noon-syahrdenunˈsjaɾ
Examples
El colectivo feminista denunció la falta de medidas contra la violencia de género.
The feminist collective denounced the lack of measures against gender violence.
El sindicato denunció las malas condiciones de trabajo.
The union denounced the poor working conditions.
Debemos denunciar la injusticia social.
We must speak out against social injustice.
Direct Object Use
You don't need a preposition like 'about' after this verb. You denounce the thing directly: 'Denunciar la situación' (Denounce the situation).
English Interference
Mistake: “Saying 'denunciar sobre algo'.”
Correction: Just say 'denunciar algo'. Spanish doesn't use 'about' with this verb.
ah-tah-KAHRataˈkaɾ
Examples
El político atacó las propuestas económicas de su oponente en el debate.
The politician attacked his opponent's economic proposals in the debate.
La oposición atacó duramente el nuevo presupuesto.
The opposition fiercely criticized the new budget.
En su discurso, el político atacó a sus rivales sin piedad.
In his speech, the politician attacked his rivals mercilessly.
Figurative Use
When used in this sense, 'atacar' means to direct strong negative words or arguments toward a person, idea, or policy.
Denunciar vs. Atacar
Learners often confuse 'denunciar' and 'atacar' because both involve strong public disapproval. Remember that 'denunciar' is closer to 'to report' or 'to condemn,' often implying a more formal exposure of a problem, while 'atacar' is a more direct verbal 'attack'.
Related Translations
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