gravamen
/ɡɾabamen/from spelling rules
The English word "lien" translates to Spanish as gravamen.
In a legal or financial context, gravamen refers to a right to take and hold a debtor's property.
Meaning: right to take and hold debtor’s property (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡɾabamen/
Did you know?
- While gravamen is the formal term for a lien, Spanish speakers often use embargo to describe the actual seizure of property. In English, an 'embargo' usually refers to a trade ban between countries, but in Spanish, it is a common legal term for seizing assets.
- The Spanish word gravamen shares its roots with the English word 'grave', as both descend from the Latin 'gravis', meaning 'heavy'.
- The word gravamen is closely linked to the Spanish word grave, which means 'serious' or 'severe'. Unlike in English, grave is rarely used to describe a burial site in everyday Spanish conversation.
Examples in context
- El contrato establecía un gravamen sobre la propiedad hasta que se liquidara la deuda.The contract established a lien on the property until the debt was paid off.
- El tribunal dictaminó el embargo de la casa como garantía del pago pendiente.The court ordered the house to be seized as a lien for the outstanding payment.
- El banco registró un gravamen sobre la casa.The bank registered a lien on the house.
- No puedes vender el coche con ese gravamen.You cannot sell the car with that lien.
- Hay un gravamen pendiente en la propiedad.There is a pending lien on the property.
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are discussing a real estate contract.
- SofíaDaniel, ¿esta casa tiene algún gravamen?Daniel, does this house have any lien?
- DanielNo, el vendedor ya lo liquidó.No, the seller already settled it.
- SofíaMe alegra que no haya un gravamen.I am glad there is no lien.
- DanielTodo está listo para la firma.Everything is ready for the signing.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gravamen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
