Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| autolesión | /autolesjon/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| automutilación | /automutilaˈθjon/ /automutilaˈsjon/ |
feminine |
| autoagresión | /autoaɡɾesjon/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| autoagresividad | /autoaɡɾesibidad/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
The term refers to the deliberate injuring of oneself. Depending on the context, you might use autolesión for general self-harm, autoagresividad to describe the clinical tendency or trait of self-harming behavior.
What does it mean word for word?
The word autolesión is composed of the prefix auto- (self) and lesión (injury or lesion).
Which one should you use?
While autolesión is a general term for self-harm, automutilación is often used to describe more severe or permanent forms of the behavior, such as self-mutilation. Autoagresividad refers specifically to the psychological trait of self-aggressiveness.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing the action of self-harming through verbs like autolesionarse, automutilarse or autoagredirse, you must use them reflexively. This means they require a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) to indicate that the action is being performed on oneself.
How do you pronounce it?
/autolesjon/
Did you know?
- In Spanish legal terminology, the word lesión in autolesión can refer to a financial loss or a disadvantage in a contract, not just a physical wound.
- While autolesión is the clinical term, Spanish speakers often use the phrase hacerse daño to describe the act of self-harm in everyday conversation.
- The word agresión in autoagresión is rooted in the Latin aggredior, which originally meant 'to step toward' or 'to approach' rather than 'to attack'.
Examples in context
- A veces, cuando estoy muy angustiado, siento la necesidad de hacerme daño.Sometimes, when I'm very distressed, I feel the urge to self-harm.
- Carlos necesita ayuda para superar la tendencia de lastimarse a sí mismo.Carlos needs help to overcome the tendency to self-harm.
- La autolesión es un problema de salud mental serio.Self-harm is a serious mental health problem.
- El psicólogo trató el tema de la autolesión.The psychologist addressed the issue of self-harm.
- Hay muchas señales de autolesión en este caso.There are many signs of self-harm in this case.
Example conversation
Two friends talking about mental health awareness.
- AlejandroLeí un artículo sobre la autolesión.I read an article about self-harm.
- LucíaEs un tema muy difícil y delicado.It is a very difficult and delicate topic.
- AlejandroSí, es importante saber cómo ayudar.Yes, it is important to know how to help.
- LucíaTienes razón, Alejandro.You are right, Alejandro.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “self-harm” translations and entries autolesión, automutilación, autoagresión, autoagresividad, 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 autoagresión, autolesión, automutilación, CC BY-SA 4.0.
