How to Say "to fine" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “to fine” is “sancionar” — B1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
El árbitro sancionó al jugador con una tarjeta roja.
The referee penalized the player with a red card.
La policía te puede sancionar por conducir demasiado rápido.
The police can fine you for driving too fast.
La empresa fue sancionada por contaminar el río.
The company was penalized for polluting the river.
Using 'por' to explain the reason
In Spanish, use 'por' after 'sancionar' to explain the specific reason or action that caused the penalty (e.g., 'sancionar por exceso de velocidad').
Sancionar vs. Castigar
Mistake: “Using 'sancionar' for a child's timeout.”
Correction: Use 'castigar' for personal or parental discipline. 'Sancionar' is reserved for official, legal, or professional contexts.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.