ojo por ojo
/oxo poɾ oxo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "eye for an eye" is translated into Spanish as ojo por ojo.
This phrase is used to express the concept of compensation for an injury.
Meaning: compensation for an injury (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a literal translation where ojo means eye and por means for or in exchange for.
Which one should you use?
A common way to expand the idiom in Spanish is to say ojo por ojo, diente por diente, which adds "a tooth for a tooth" to the expression. talión is a formal way to convey the concept of "eye for an eye" in Spanish.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, ojo is used in the common warning ¡Ojo!, which means 'Watch out!' or 'Pay attention!' It treats the eye as a symbol for vigilance rather than just an organ.
- The Spanish word ojo shares an ancient root with the English word 'ogle', both tracing back to a common ancestor that describes the act of looking.
- While the idiom is a direct translation, the formal legal term for this concept in Spanish is ley del talión, referring to the 'Lex Talionis' of Roman law.
Examples in context
- Ojo por ojo, y el mundo acabará ciego.An eye for an eye and the world goes blind.This sentence shows how the phrase can be used to illustrate the destructive nature of retaliation.Tatoeba #962618 by gleOsp, translation #6393194 by npvojtik
- Ojo por ojo.An eye for an eye.This sentence provides a simple, direct use of the phrase.Tatoeba #5116937 by don_ramon, translation #5116929 by honestlang
- Ojo por ojo, diente por diente.An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.This sentence shows the common way to complete the idiom by adding the mention of a tooth.Tatoeba #345908 by tatoerique, translation #6136 by CM
- En nuestro sistema legal, el principio de ojo por ojo es considerado una forma de justicia retributiva.In our legal system, the eye for an eye principle is considered a form of retributive justice.
- El sistema penal de la antigua Babilonia estaba basado en el principio del talión.The criminal justice system in ancient Babylon was based on the principle of talion.
- Si se mete con ella, pagará con la misma moneda. No se queda callada ante las injusticias.If someone messes with her, they will pay with the same currency. She doesn't stay quiet in the face of injustice.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are discussing a conflict at work.
- Lucía¿Vas a vengarte de él?Are you going to take revenge on him?
- JavierNo, yo no creo en el ojo por ojo.No, I don't believe in an eye for an eye.
- LucíaEs una actitud muy noble, Javier.That is a very noble attitude, Javier.
- JavierSolo quiero solucionar el problema.I just want to solve the problem.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eye for an eye” translations, 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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ojo, por, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
