pecado
/peˈkado/
The Spanish word for sin is pecado.
Pecado is the most widely used and general term for sin in Spanish. It refers to a moral or religious transgression. If you wish to emphasize the aspect of being guilty or blameworthy, you might use culpa. To imply a small or minor sin, you can use the diminutive form pecadillo.
Meaning: misdeed (noun)
Which one should you use?
While pecado refers to a moral or religious transgression, the word delito is used specifically for legal crimes.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of pecado is pecados. The adjective form of the noun is pecaminoso, meaning sinful.
How do you pronounce it?
/peˈkado/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the phrase ¡Qué pecado! is often used to express pity or sadness rather than religious condemnation, similar to saying 'what a shame'.
- In some contexts, pecar can be used as a verb meaning 'to be excessive' in a certain quality, such as pecar de optimista meaning 'to be too optimistic'.
- The Latin root of pecado, the verb 'peccare', originally meant 'to stumble' or 'to trip', suggesting that a sin is a loss of footing rather than just a conscious act of evil.
Examples in context
- No confundas pecado con delito.Do not mistake sin with crime.This sentence is useful for distinguishing between the terms pecado and delito.Tatoeba #1152453 by marcelostockle, translation #1152457 by marcelostockle
- Se suicidó para expiar su pecado.He committed suicide to atone for his sin.This sentence shows the use of pecado in the context of atonement.Tatoeba #800816 by Munia, translation #297234 by CM
- El odio no es un delito, sino un pecado.Hate is not a crime, but a sin.This sentence contrasts a legal delito with a moral pecado.Tatoeba #10185689 by saverius, translation #10622720 by sangelo
- El pecado es considerado una ofensa grave en muchas religiones.Sin is considered a serious offense in many religions.
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are discussing a character in a novel.
- AlejandroEse personaje cometió un pecado terrible.That character committed a terrible sin.
- LucíaSí, su pecado fue la traición.Yes, her sin was betrayal.
- Alejandro¿Crees que puede redimirse?Do you think he can redeem himself?
- LucíaEs difícil después de un pecado así.It is difficult after a sin like that.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pecado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pecado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
