expiación
/eɡspjaθjon/from spelling rules
Atonement in Spanish is expiación.
The term expiación refers to amends made to restore a damaged relationship. It is commonly used in religious or spiritual contexts to describe making amends for sin, but it can also be used in a secular way to describe making up for a mistake or a wrongdoing.
Meaning: amends to restore a damaged relationship (noun)
Which one should you use?
While expiación is a versatile term for atonement or expiation, Spanish offers other formal nuances: reparación is used when referring specifically to making reparations or corrective actions and penitencia refers to the act of seeking penance.
How does it change in a sentence?
Expiación is a feminine noun. Therefore, any accompanying articles or adjectives must also be feminine, such as la expiación or una expiación necesaria.
How do you pronounce it?
/eɡspjaθjon/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the concept of making amends is often linked to the phrase limpiar la culpa, which literally means 'to clean the guilt'.
- In Spanish, the word expiar can be used to describe the physical act of 'paying' for a crime through time served in prison, not just spiritual cleansing.
- The word penitencia can be used colloquially in some Spanish-speaking cultures to describe any arduous or unpleasant task one must endure as a punishment.
Examples in context
- Aceptar el sufrimiento y conseguir la expiación a través de él. Eso es lo que debes hacer.Accept suffering and achieve atonement through it that is what you must do.This sentence is useful for illustrating how one might achieve expiación through suffering.Tatoeba #1807953 by marcelostockle, translation #918763 by Scott
- La expiación de sus pecados fue fundamental para su redención.The atonement for his/her sins was crucial for his/her redemption
- Quiero hacer una compensación por lo que hice, ¿cómo puedo hacerlo?I want to make up for what I did, how can I do it?
- No hay expiación posible para sus actos.There is no possible atonement for his actions.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are discussing a conflict they had.
- LucíaSiento mucho haberte mentido, Mateo.I am very sorry for lying to you, Mateo.
- MateoAgradezco tus palabras, pero necesito más.I appreciate your words, but I need more.
- Lucía¿Qué puedo hacer para lograr la expiación?What can I do to achieve atonement?
- MateoSolo demuestra que puedes ser honesta.Just show that you can be honest.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry expiación, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
