Inklingo

How to Say "to disregard" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to disregard” is “ignorar” — use this common word when you deliberately choose to pay no attention to something or someone, like negative comments or a warning.

ignorar🔊A2

Use this common word when you deliberately choose to pay no attention to something or someone, like negative comments or a warning.

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desestimar🔊B1

Use this word when you dismiss or reject someone's opinions, advice, or a suggestion, implying it's not worth considering.

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saltar🔊B1

Use this when you skip over or bypass a rule, instruction, or part of a text, often for convenience.

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prescindir🔊B2

This translates to 'to do without' or 'to omit', implying you are leaving something or someone out, or managing without it.

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atropellar🔊B2

Use this strong verb when you disregard someone's rights or feelings in a forceful, often aggressive manner, like trampling on them.

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despreciar🔊B2

Use this when you scornfully ignore or dismiss something important, like an offer, a warning, or a risk, treating it as worthless.

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English → Spanish

ignorar

eeg-noh-RAHRiɣnoˈɾaɾ

verbA2general
Use this common word when you deliberately choose to pay no attention to something or someone, like negative comments or a warning.
A small child sitting on the ground, deliberately turning their back away from a brightly colored, squeaking toy nearby, refusing to acknowledge it.

Examples

Ella decidió ignorar los comentarios negativos y seguir adelante.

She decided to ignore the negative comments and move forward.

Por favor, no ignores las reglas de seguridad.

Please, do not disregard the safety rules.

Me sentí muy mal cuando mi mejor amigo me ignoró en la fiesta.

I felt very bad when my best friend ignored me at the party.

Direct Object Usage

When you ignore a person or thing, that person or thing is the direct object. For people, remember to use the personal 'a': 'Ignoramos a la camarera' (We ignored the waitress).

Confusion with 'No Saber'

Mistake: “Using 'ignorar' when you simply mean 'I don't know a fact' in everyday conversation.”

Correction: For simple lack of knowledge, use 'no saber' (e.g., 'No sé la respuesta' - I don't know the answer). Use 'ignorar' for deliberate disregard or formal 'not knowing' (see next definition).

desestimar

dess-ess-tee-MARdesestiˈmaɾ

verbB1general
Use this word when you dismiss or reject someone's opinions, advice, or a suggestion, implying it's not worth considering.
A person covering their ears while another person tries to give them advice.

Examples

No deberías desestimar sus consejos; tiene mucha experiencia.

You shouldn't disregard his advice; he has a lot of experience.

Ella desestimó el rumor de inmediato.

She brushed aside the rumor immediately.

Direct Use

Unlike English, which sometimes uses 'disregard for,' Spanish usually puts the thing being ignored directly after the verb without a preposition.

Don't add 'de'

Mistake: “Desestimó de mi sugerencia.”

Correction: Desestimó mi sugerencia.

saltar

sahl-TAHRsalˈtaɾ

verbB1general
Use this when you skip over or bypass a rule, instruction, or part of a text, often for convenience.
A small, brown rabbit hopping over a sequence of stepping stones, clearly bypassing the middle stone to land on the third stone.

Examples

Si lees el resumen, puedes saltar el prólogo.

If you read the summary, you can skip the prologue.

No puedes saltar las instrucciones o no funcionará.

You can't skip the instructions or it won't work.

Using 'Omitir' vs. 'Saltar'

Mistake: “Using 'omitir' for a physical skip (e.g., 'omitir una valla').”

Correction: 'Omitir' is better for formal documents or information. 'Saltar' is used for skipping physical things (like a line in a book or a step in a process). 'Saltar el desayuno' is more natural than 'omitir el desayuno'.

prescindir

press-seen-DEERpɾesθinˈdiɾ

verbB2general
This translates to 'to do without' or 'to omit', implying you are leaving something or someone out, or managing without it.
A hiker standing on a mountain trail with no backpack, looking free and light.

Examples

No puedo prescindir de mi café por la mañana.

I can't do without my coffee in the morning.

En este viaje, vamos a prescindir de lujos.

On this trip, we are going to do without luxuries.

Prescindieron de los detalles técnicos para que todos entendieran.

They left out the technical details so that everyone would understand.

The Essential 'De'

This verb almost always needs the word 'de' to connect to the thing you are doing without. It's like saying 'to dispense OF' instead of just 'to dispense'.

A Regular '-ir' Verb

Good news! It follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ir, so no surprise stem changes here.

Missing the 'De'

Mistake: “No puedo prescindir mi teléfono.”

Correction: No puedo prescindir DE mi teléfono. Always use 'de' before the object.

atropellar

ah-troh-peh-yahratɾopeˈʎaɾ

verbB2general
Use this strong verb when you disregard someone's rights or feelings in a forceful, often aggressive manner, like trampling on them.
A large heavy boot stepping firmly onto a delicate flower in a garden.

Examples

No podemos permitir que atropellen nuestros derechos civiles.

We cannot allow them to trample on our civil rights.

El director atropelló la opinión de todo el equipo.

The director disregarded the opinion of the whole team.

Atropellaron la ley para conseguir sus objetivos.

They trampled the law to achieve their goals.

Figurative Language

Just like in English we say 'trample on rights', Spanish uses 'atropellar' to show that someone is being treated like they aren't there or don't matter.

despreciar

des-pre-thyahrdespreˈθjaɾ

verbB2general
Use this when you scornfully ignore or dismiss something important, like an offer, a warning, or a risk, treating it as worthless.
A person pushing away a plate containing a single bruised, brown banana.

Examples

No puedes despreciar una oferta de trabajo tan buena.

You can't turn down such a good job offer.

Despreciaron el peligro y cruzaron el bosque de noche.

They disregarded the danger and crossed the forest at night.

Ella despreció mi regalo sin siquiera abrirlo.

She rejected my gift without even opening it.

Nuance of Rejection

Unlike the neutral word 'rechazar' (to reject), using 'despreciar' implies that you rejected it because you thought it was worthless or not good enough.

Ignoring Advice vs. Trampling Rights

Learners often confuse 'desestimar' (to dismiss advice) and 'atropellar' (to trample rights). Remember, 'desestimar' is about rejecting an idea or suggestion, while 'atropellar' implies a forceful disregard that violates something important.

Related Translations

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