Inklingo

How to Say "vicarious" in Spanish

The Spanish word forvicariousis vicarioC1 level.

English → SpanishC1
adjectiveC1formal
experiencing something through someone else
A child watching an astronaut on a television screen with a look of awe and excitement.

Examples

Muchos padres buscan un éxito vicario a través de sus hijos.

Many parents seek vicarious success through their children.

El poder del regente es puramente vicario.

The regent's power is purely delegated (acting for another).

Sentí un placer vicario al verla ganar el premio.

I felt a vicarious pleasure seeing her win the prize.

Gender Matching

Since this is an adjective, it must match the gender of the thing it describes: 'un poder vicario' (masculine) but 'una experiencia vicaria' (feminine).

Word Order

In Spanish, this word almost always comes after the noun it describes to sound natural.

Confusing with 'Vicar'

Mistake:Using 'el vicario' when you mean 'vicarious experience'.

Correction: Use 'vicario' as an adjective after the noun for experiences, and as a noun for the person (the priest).

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