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B1 noun #1,500 le plus courant 10 min de lecture

daño

Top 1,500

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces daño en 30 secondes

Explication daño in your Level:

At the A1 level, you learn 'daño' in very simple contexts, primarily related to basic physical sensations and the verb 'hacer'. You might learn the phrase 'me hace daño' to explain that something (like a shoe or a type of food) is causing you discomfort. It is one of the first words you use to express that something is 'bad' for you. You don't need to worry about legal or abstract meanings yet; just focus on 'hacerse daño' (to hurt oneself) and 'hacer daño' (to hurt/cause pain). For example, 'El sol hace daño' (The sun is harmful) or 'Me hice daño en el pie' (I hurt my foot). At this stage, it is a building block for expressing needs and physical states.

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By A2, you start to see 'daño' used in more descriptive ways. You can talk about 'daños' in the plural when describing the aftermath of a small accident or a weather event. You begin to use adjectives with it, like 'mucho daño' or 'poco daño'. You also start to distinguish between 'daño' and 'dolor', realizing that 'daño' is the cause and 'dolor' is the feeling. You might use it in the context of health and the environment: 'Fumar hace daño a los pulmones'. You are also introduced to the idea that words can 'hacer daño' to people's feelings, moving slightly beyond just physical pain.

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At the B1 level, you are expected to use 'daño' with more precision and in a wider variety of contexts. You understand the difference between 'hacer daño' (common/informal) and 'causar daño' (more formal). You can discuss 'daños materiales' (material damage) and 'daños morales' (moral/emotional damage). You start to encounter the word in news reports about accidents, natural disasters, and social issues. You also learn common idioms and fixed phrases like 'daños y perjuicios'. Your ability to use 'daño' in the passive voice ('el daño fue causado por...') or with more complex grammar structures increases. You also begin to recognize synonyms like 'perjuicio' or 'lesión' and know when 'daño' is the better choice.

At B2, you use 'daño' fluently in academic and professional discussions. You can talk about 'daño colateral' in a political debate or 'daño emergente' in a business context. You understand the nuances of how 'daño' affects reputation and legal standing. You can use it to describe complex cause-and-effect relationships: 'La falta de inversión ha provocado un daño estructural a la economía'. You are also comfortable using it in figurative ways, such as 'daño a la vista' (an eyesore) or 'hacerse daño a uno mismo' in a psychological sense. You can compare 'daño' with more sophisticated terms like 'menoscabo' or 'detrimento' and choose the one that fits the register of your conversation or writing.

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At the C1 level, your use of 'daño' is nuanced and precise. You can use it in legal, medical, and philosophical contexts with ease. You understand the subtle differences between 'daño', 'perjuicio', 'menoscabo', and 'quebranto'. You can write detailed reports on 'daños ambientales' or 'daños psicológicos' using advanced vocabulary and complex sentence structures. You are also familiar with literary uses of the word and can interpret it in poetry or classical prose where it might carry archaic or highly symbolic meanings. You use 'daño' not just as a noun, but as part of sophisticated verbal constructions and idiomatic expressions that reflect a deep cultural understanding.

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At the C2 level, you have a native-like command of 'daño'. You can use it in any context, from highly technical legal briefs to abstract philosophical treatises. You are aware of the etymological roots of the word and how its meaning has evolved in the Spanish language. You can use it to make subtle rhetorical points, choosing it or its most obscure synonyms to achieve a specific effect. You understand all regional variations in its usage across the Spanish-speaking world. Your ability to use 'daño' is indistinguishable from that of an educated native speaker, and you can even play with the word in puns, double entendres, or complex metaphors.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

daño en 30 secondes

Daño means damage, harm, or hurt in Spanish, used for physical, emotional, and material contexts.
Commonly paired with 'hacer' (hacer daño) to mean 'to hurt' or 'to cause harm'.
It is a masculine noun (el daño) and can be used in the plural (daños) for multiple damages.
Essential for B1 learners to distinguish from 'dolor' (pain) and use in legal or environmental contexts.

The Spanish noun daño is a versatile and essential term that primarily translates to 'damage,' 'harm,' or 'hurt' in English. At its core, it refers to any form of deterioration, injury, or negative impact inflicted upon a person, an object, or an abstract concept like a reputation. Understanding 'daño' requires looking at it through several lenses: physical, emotional, legal, and material.

Physical Damage: This refers to tangible destruction. If a car is in an accident, it suffers 'daño'. If a storm hits a house, the roof might sustain 'daño'. It implies a reduction in value or functionality.
Bodily Harm: In a biological sense, 'daño' is used for injuries. However, in everyday speech, while you might say 'me hice daño' (I hurt myself), specific medical terms like 'lesión' are often used in professional contexts.

El huracán causó mucho daño a las casas de la costa.

Beyond the physical, 'daño' extends into the realm of the psyche. Emotional harm—feelings of betrayal, sadness, or trauma—is frequently described using this word. When someone says 'me hiciste daño,' they are often referring to a broken heart or a bruised ego rather than a physical blow. This dual nature makes it one of the most powerful words in the Spanish language for expressing grievance.

Sus palabras me hicieron mucho daño emocional.

Abstract Harm: This involves damage to things you cannot touch, such as a company's image or a person's honor. 'Daño a la reputación' is a common phrase in journalism and law.

El escándalo provocó un daño irreparable a su carrera.

In summary, 'daño' is the universal Spanish word for the negative outcome of an action or event on an entity. Whether it is a scratched phone screen, a sprained ankle, or a ruined reputation, 'daño' is the noun that captures the essence of that loss or injury. It is a B1 level word because while its basic meaning is simple, its nuances across different fields (legal, medical, emotional) require a more sophisticated understanding of context.

No quise causarte ningún daño, fue un accidente.

El exceso de sol puede hacer daño a la piel.

Environmental Impact: Used to describe ecological destruction, such as 'daño ambiental' or 'daño a la capa de ozono'.

Using daño correctly involves mastering its common verbal pairings. The most frequent verb associated with it is 'hacer' (to do/make). When you say 'hacer daño,' you are saying 'to hurt' or 'to cause damage.' This can be used for people, animals, or things. For example, 'El picante me hace daño' means 'Spicy food disagrees with me' or 'hurts my stomach.'

Hacer vs. Causar: While 'hacer daño' is common in daily speech, 'causar daño' is slightly more formal and often used in news reports or technical descriptions. 'Provocar daño' is another alternative, suggesting a trigger or specific cause.

¿Te hiciste daño al caer?

Another important structure is the reflexive 'hacerse daño.' This specifically means 'to hurt oneself.' If a child falls, you might ask, '¿Te has hecho daño?' (Did you hurt yourself?). Note that in Latin America, 'lastimarse' is often preferred for physical injuries, while 'hacerse daño' remains universal but is very common in Spain.

Ese producto químico puede causar daño colateral.

Quantifying Damage: We use adjectives like 'grave' (serious), 'leve' (slight), 'irreparable' (irreparable), or 'cuantioso' (heavy/substantial, usually for money or property) to describe the extent of the daño.

Los daños materiales son cuantiosos tras el incendio.

In the plural form, 'daños' often refers to legal 'damages.' If you sue someone, you are seeking 'daños y perjuicios.' This is a fixed legal phrase. Even in non-legal contexts, 'daños' (plural) is used when referring to multiple points of destruction, such as 'los daños causados por la tormenta' (the damages caused by the storm).

El juez ordenó el pago de daños y perjuicios.

Espero que mi honestidad no te haga daño.

Prepositions: Usually followed by 'a' when indicating the victim: 'daño a la propiedad', 'daño a la salud'.

You will encounter daño in a vast array of settings, from the most intimate conversations to the most formal news broadcasts. In a domestic setting, it's the word parents use when a child falls: '¿Dónde te duele? ¿Te has hecho daño?'. It's also common in the kitchen when discussing allergies or intolerances: 'No puedo comer nueces, me hacen mucho daño'.

In the News: Journalists use 'daño' constantly. You'll hear about 'daños colaterales' (collateral damage) in military reports, or 'daños estructurales' (structural damage) after an earthquake. It provides a objective way to quantify the impact of a disaster.

Las autoridades evalúan los daños tras la inundación.

In the world of relationships and pop culture, 'daño' is a staple of romantic ballads (boleros, reggaetón, pop). Lyrics often revolve around 'el daño que me hiciste' (the harm you did to me). In this context, it translates more closely to 'heartbreak' or 'pain'. It’s a word that carries significant emotional weight in Spanish-speaking cultures, where expressing feelings of being 'hurt' by another's actions is common.

Esa canción habla del daño de un amor no correspondido.

Professional Environments: In insurance (seguros), 'daño' is a technical term. You might have 'seguro contra daños a terceros' (third-party damage insurance). In IT, you might hear about 'daño en los archivos' (file corruption/damage).

El virus causó un daño severo al sistema operativo.

Finally, in environmental activism, 'daño' is used to describe the effects of pollution. 'El daño ecológico' is a frequent topic in documentaries and political debates. It emphasizes that the earth is a victim of human actions. Whether you are reading a lease agreement, listening to a song, or watching the weather report, 'daño' will appear as the primary way to describe something going wrong.

El vertido de petróleo causó un daño ecológico masivo.

Preguntar no hace daño.

Medical Context: Doctors might speak of 'daño cerebral' (brain damage) or 'daño hepático' (liver damage).

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is confusing daño with 'dolor'. While 'daño' is the harm or the cause, 'dolor' is the physical sensation of pain. If you have a headache, you have 'dolor de cabeza', not 'daño de cabeza'. However, if you hit your head, you have done 'daño' to it, which results in 'dolor'.

Daño vs. Dolor: Remember: 'Daño' is the injury/harm. 'Dolor' is the feeling. You feel 'dolor' because of the 'daño'.

Incorrecto: Tengo un daño de muelas. Correcto: Tengo dolor de muelas.

Another common error is using the wrong verb. English speakers often want to say 'causar dolor' when they mean 'hacer daño'. While 'causar dolor' is grammatically correct, 'hacer daño' is the standard way to say 'to hurt' someone's feelings or body in a general sense. Also, avoid using 'dañar' (the verb) when you should use the noun 'daño'. For example, 'El daño es grande' (The damage is big) vs 'Él dañó el coche' (He damaged the car).

Incorrecto: La tormenta hizo mucha daño. Correcto: La tormenta hizo mucho daño.

False Friends: Do not confuse 'daño' with 'dama' (lady) or 'dato' (data/fact), though they look vaguely similar to some beginners. Also, 'condena' is for a legal sentence, while 'daño' is the harm done.

No confundas daño (harm) con dueño (owner).

In some regions, learners might over-rely on 'daño' and forget more specific words. For instance, if a machine breaks down, 'avería' is often more precise than 'daño'. If a person is physically injured in a medical context, 'lesión' is better. Using 'daño' for everything makes your Spanish sound a bit repetitive and basic, which is why at the B1 level, you should start pairing it with more specific synonyms when appropriate.

El coche tiene una avería (more specific than daño).

Ese pescado me hizo daño al estómago.

Preposition Errors: Avoid saying 'daño para'. Use 'daño a' or 'daño en'. 'Daño a la salud', 'Daño en el motor'.

To truly master daño, you must understand how it compares to its synonyms. Each has a slightly different flavor and context. 'Perjuicio' is perhaps the closest, but it is much more formal and often used in legal or economic contexts to describe a loss of profit or a disadvantage. You wouldn't say a broken toy has 'perjuicio', but you would say a bad contract caused 'perjuicio' to your company.

Daño vs. Perjuicio: 'Daño' is the direct physical or emotional hit. 'Perjuicio' is the indirect consequence or the loss of a benefit due to that hit.

El daño fue el golpe; el perjuicio fue no poder trabajar.

'Lesión' is specifically for physical injuries to the body. If you are talking about a sports injury, 'lesión' is the professional term. 'Avería' is the go-to word for mechanical or technical breakdowns. If your washing machine stops working, it has an 'avería', though you could broadly say it has sustained 'daño' if someone hit it with a hammer.

La guerra causó grandes estragos (much more than just daño).

Menoscabo: A very formal word meaning 'impairment' or 'reduction'. Often used for 'menoscabo de la autoridad' (undermining of authority).

Su reputación sufrió un grave menoscabo.

'Deterioro' is used for the gradual wearing down of something over time. While 'daño' is often sudden, 'deterioro' is a process. For example, 'el deterioro de un edificio' due to age. Understanding these distinctions allows a B1 learner to move toward B2 and C1 levels by choosing the precise word for the situation rather than relying on the general term 'daño'.

El daño fue por el choque, pero el deterioro es por los años.

Hacer el mal vs. hacer daño.

Siniestro: In insurance, an accident or event that causes damage is called a 'siniestro'.

How Formal Is It?

Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

Reflexive verbs (hacerse daño)

Indirect object pronouns (me hace daño)

Noun-adjective agreement (mucho daño)

Prepositions with nouns (daño a/en)

Passive voice (el daño fue causado)

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Exemples par niveau

Me hice daño en la mano.

I hurt my hand.

Uses reflexive 'hacerse' for self-injury.

El zapato me hace daño.

The shoe hurts me.

Direct object 'me' with 'hacer daño'.

No quiero hacerte daño.

I don't want to hurt you.

Infinitive after 'querer'.

El sol hace daño a los ojos.

The sun hurts the eyes.

General statement using 'hacer daño a'.

Comer mucho dulce hace daño.

Eating too much candy is harmful.

Subject is an infinitive phrase.

¡Ay! Me hiciste daño.

Ouch! You hurt me.

Preterite tense of 'hacer'.

El perro no hace daño.

The dog doesn't bite/hurt.

Negative sentence.

¿Te has hecho daño?

Have you hurt yourself?

Present perfect with reflexive pronoun.

La lluvia causó daño a las flores.

The rain caused damage to the flowers.

Uses 'causar' instead of 'hacer' for objects.

Fumar hace mucho daño a la salud.

Smoking is very harmful to health.

Adverb 'mucho' quantifying the noun.

Hubo pocos daños en el coche.

There was little damage to the car.

Plural 'daños' for physical impact.

Sus mentiras hicieron daño a la familia.

His lies hurt the family.

Abstract harm to a group.

El frío puede hacer daño a las plantas.

The cold can harm the plants.

Modal verb 'puede' expressing possibility.

No es un daño grave.

It is not a serious injury/damage.

Adjective 'grave' modifying 'daño'.

Me duele, pero no hay daño.

It hurts, but there is no damage.

Contrast between 'dolor' (implied) and 'daño'.

El niño llora porque se hizo daño.

The boy is crying because he hurt himself.

Causal clause with 'porque'.

El huracán provocó daños materiales cuantiosos.

The hurricane caused substantial material damage.

Formal verb 'provocar' and specific adjective 'cuantiosos'.

Es importante reparar el daño lo antes posible.

It is important to repair the damage as soon as possible.

Impersonal expression 'es importante'.

Ese comentario le hizo un daño irreparable.

That comment did him irreparable harm.

Indirect object 'le' and adjective 'irreparable'.

El seguro cubre los daños por incendio.

The insurance covers fire damage.

Vocabulary related to services/contracts.

No midió el daño que sus palabras podían causar.

He didn't measure the harm his words could cause.

Relative clause 'que sus palabras...'.

El médico evaluó el daño en el tobillo.

The doctor evaluated the damage to the ankle.

Medical context usage.

La contaminación causa un daño constante al planeta.

Pollution causes constant damage to the planet.

Environmental context.

Hacer daño a los demás no te hará sentir mejor.

Hurting others won't make you feel better.

Future tense 'hará'.

La empresa debe indemnizar por los daños y perjuicios.

The company must compensate for damages.

Legal phrase 'daños y perjuicios'.

El escándalo supuso un daño a la imagen corporativa.

The scandal meant damage to the corporate image.

Verb 'suponer' indicating consequence.

Se detectó un daño estructural en el puente.

Structural damage was detected in the bridge.

Passive 'se' construction.

El alcohol produce un daño hepático severo a largo plazo.

Alcohol produces severe liver damage in the long term.

Scientific/medical register.

Fue un daño colateral de una decisión difícil.

It was collateral damage from a difficult decision.

Abstract/political metaphor.

La difamación causó un daño moral profundo.

Defamation caused deep moral harm.

Specific term 'daño moral'.

Intentaron minimizar el daño con una disculpa pública.

They tried to minimize the damage with a public apology.

Verb 'minimizar' used with 'daño'.

El daño ya está hecho y no hay vuelta atrás.

The damage is already done and there's no going back.

Idiomatic expression of finality.

La negligencia profesional derivó en un daño patrimonial.

Professional negligence resulted in financial loss.

Formal verb 'derivar' and specific 'daño patrimonial'.

El perito judicial cuantificó los daños en miles de euros.

The judicial expert quantified the damages in thousands of euros.

Legal/Technical vocabulary.

Sus actos causaron un daño irreversible al ecosistema local.

His actions caused irreversible damage to the local ecosystem.

Adjective 'irreversible' in a formal context.

El daño emergente debe ser resarcido íntegramente.

The actual loss must be fully compensated.

Specific legal term 'daño emergente'.

La crítica mordaz hizo mella y causó un daño a su autoestima.

The biting criticism took its toll and damaged her self-esteem.

Idiom 'hacer mella'.

Se alega que hubo un daño deliberado a la propiedad ajena.

It is alleged that there was deliberate damage to someone else's property.

Subjunctive/Legal allegation style.

El impacto psicológico del daño es a menudo subestimado.

The psychological impact of the harm is often underestimated.

Abstract noun usage.

La sentencia busca reparar el daño causado a las víctimas.

The sentence seeks to repair the harm caused to the victims.

Focus on restorative justice terminology.

El menoscabo de su honor constituyó un daño antijurídico.

The undermining of his honor constituted an unlawful harm.

Highly formal/archaic 'menoscabo' and 'antijurídico'.

La obsolescencia programada es un daño velado al consumidor.

Planned obsolescence is a veiled harm to the consumer.

Sociopolitical/Economic terminology.

No hay resquicio de duda sobre el daño infligido.

There is no shadow of a doubt about the harm inflicted.

Literary expression 'resquicio de duda'.

El daño se ramificó por todos los estratos de la sociedad.

The harm branched out through all layers of society.

Metaphorical use of 'ramificarse'.

La impunidad solo acrecienta el daño original.

Impunity only increases the original harm.

Abstract philosophical/legal statement.

El daño estético fue el menor de sus problemas tras el siniestro.

The aesthetic damage was the least of his problems after the accident.

Specific term 'daño estético' vs 'siniestro'.

La dialéctica del daño requiere un análisis pormenorizado.

The dialectic of harm requires a detailed analysis.

Academic/Philosophical register.

Apercibieron al culpable del daño inminente que acechaba.

They warned the culprit of the imminent harm that was lurking.

Formal verb 'apercibir' and 'acechar'.

Collocations courantes

causar daño

hacer daño

reparar el daño

daño material

daño moral

daño físico

daño cerebral

daño colateral

daño irreversible

daño ambiental

Phrases Courantes

hacerse daño

daños y perjuicios

sin daño alguno

hacer daño a la vista

no hace daño

reclamar daños

evaluación de daños

daño a terceros

hacer más daño que bien

el daño está hecho

Souvent confondu avec

daño vs dolor

daño vs perjuicio

daño vs lesión

Expressions idiomatiques

"hacer mella"

"sangrar por la herida"

"echar sal en la herida"

"pagar los platos rotos"

"salir mal parado"

"no romper un plato"

"dar donde más duele"

"poner el dedo en la llaga"

"costar un ojo de la cara"

"hacer leña del árbol caído"

Facile à confondre

daño vs dueño

daño vs dado

daño vs baño

daño vs dañar

daño vs mañana

Structures de phrases

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Comment l'utiliser

food

Always use 'hacer daño' for food making you sick.

plural

'Daños' often means legal compensation.

distinction

Daño is the harm; Dolor is the pain.

Erreurs courantes

Use 'dolor' for the sensation of pain, not 'daño'.
'Daño' is masculine, so it requires the masculine adjective 'mucho'.
You need the preposition 'en' to specify where you hurt yourself.
The preposition 'a' is used to indicate the recipient of the harm.
While 'dañar' is a verb, 'hacer daño' is much more natural when referring to people.

Astuces

Masculine Noun

Always remember that 'daño' is masculine. Use 'el', 'un', 'mucho', and 'este'. Beginners often mistake it for feminine because it ends in 'o' but sounds abstract.

Hacer vs. Causar

Use 'hacer daño' for people and feelings in daily talk. Use 'causar daño' for formal reports, insurance, or scientific contexts to sound more professional.

Food Issues

If you are at a restaurant and something makes you feel sick, say 'Me hizo daño'. It's a polite but clear way to explain you have indigestion or an allergy.

Specific Adjectives

Enhance your writing by adding adjectives to 'daño'. Instead of just 'daño', use 'daño colateral', 'daño irreversible', or 'daño estético' to be more precise.

The 'Ñ' Sound

Be careful not to hear 'dano'. The 'ñ' is crucial. If you hear 'dano', it might be a mispronunciation or a different word entirely in another language.

Emotional Weight

In Spanish, 'hacer daño' is very strong emotionally. Use it carefully in relationships as it implies a deep hurt rather than just a minor annoyance.

Damages

If you see 'daños' in a contract, it's referring to the money paid for harm. It's a key word for anyone living or working in a Spanish-speaking country.

Injury

While 'daño' works, doctors will prefer 'lesión'. Use 'daño' for the general impact and 'lesión' for the specific medical diagnosis.

Eco-friendly

When discussing climate change, 'daño ambiental' is the standard term. It helps you participate in modern global conversations in Spanish.

No hace daño

Use the phrase 'no hace daño' to mean 'it doesn't hurt' or 'it's worth a try'. For example: 'Probar este plato no hace daño' (Trying this dish won't hurt).

Mémorise-le

Origine du mot

Contexte culturel

Used to describe food intolerances or indigestion.

Crucial in 'daños y perjuicios' lawsuits.

Common in music and literature to describe heartbreak.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"¿Alguna vez te has hecho daño haciendo deporte?"

"¿Qué comida te hace daño al estómago?"

"¿Cómo podemos reducir el daño al medio ambiente?"

"¿Crees que las palabras pueden hacer más daño que los golpes?"

"¿Has tenido que reparar algún daño importante en tu casa?"

Sujets d'écriture

Describe un momento en el que alguien te hizo daño sin querer.

Escribe sobre un objeto que se dañó y cómo lo arreglaste.

Reflexiona sobre el daño que el ser humano causa al planeta.

¿Cómo reparas el daño cuando cometes un error con un amigo?

Describe los daños que causó una tormenta que recuerdes.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

El daño es la herida o el problema físico/emocional. El dolor es la sensación que sientes en el cuerpo. Por ejemplo, un golpe es el daño y lo que sientes después es el dolor.

Ambas son correctas. 'Hacer daño' es más común y coloquial. 'Causar daño' es más formal y se usa a menudo en noticias o documentos escritos.

Es un sustantivo masculino. Siempre se dice 'el daño' o 'mucho daño'. Nunca uses 'la' o 'mucha' con esta palabra.

Se dice 'hacerse daño'. Por ejemplo: 'Me hice daño jugando al fútbol'. En Latinoamérica también es muy común decir 'lastimarse'.

Es una frase legal que se refiere a la compensación económica que alguien debe pagar por causar un daño y por las pérdidas resultantes de ese daño.

Sí, es muy común. Si algo te sienta mal al estómago, dices: 'Esa comida me hizo daño'. Significa que te enfermó o te dio dolor de estómago.

El plural es 'daños'. Se usa mucho para hablar de desastres naturales ('los daños del huracán') o en contextos de seguros y leyes.

Se dice 'daño cerebral'. Es un término médico estándar.

Sí, 'dañar' es el verbo. 'Hacer daño' es una locución verbal. 'Él dañó el coche' es igual a 'Él le hizo daño al coche', aunque 'dañar' suena un poco más directo para objetos.

Es un daño no intencionado que ocurre durante una acción dirigida a otro objetivo, muy común en lenguaje militar o político.

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