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B2 verb #10,000 most common 10 min read

agraviar

Top 10,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips agraviar in 30 Seconds

Explanation agraviar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you usually won't use the word 'agraviar'. It is a complex word for beginners. Instead, you would use 'ofender' (to offend) or just say 'estar triste' (to be sad) because someone was mean. However, it's good to know that in Spanish, there are many ways to talk about being upset. 'Agraviar' is like saying someone did something very wrong to you. If you see it, just think: 'Someone is being treated unfairly'. It's a formal way to say 'to hurt someone's feelings or rights'. At this stage, stick to 'No me gusta' or 'Él es malo', but remember that 'agraviar' exists for when you become more advanced.

At the A2 level, you might start seeing 'agraviar' in simple news stories or formal letters. It's important to know it's a regular '-ar' verb. So, 'Yo agravio', 'Tú agravias', etc. You should understand that it is more serious than 'molestar' (to bother). If you see 'Se siente agraviado', it means 'He feels wronged'. You can start to recognize it as a word related to 'justice' and 'feelings'. Don't worry about using it in your daily speaking yet, but try to identify it in texts about history or basic news. It's about a 'wrong' that someone has done.

At the B1 level, you should be able to distinguish 'agraviar' from 'ofender'. While 'ofender' is about feelings, 'agraviar' is about rights and honor. You might use it in a formal writing task, like a letter of complaint (una carta de reclamación). For example, 'Me siento agraviado por el trato recibido en su hotel'. This sounds much more professional than 'No me gusta su hotel'. You should also be careful not to confuse it with 'agravar' (to make worse). B1 students should start using it to express a sense of injustice in formal contexts, showing a growing command of Spanish registers.

At the B2 level, you are expected to use 'agraviar' correctly in both written and spoken Spanish when the context is formal. You should understand its nuances—that it implies a moral or legal transgression. You should be comfortable with the noun 'agravio' and the set phrase 'reparar un agravio'. You should also know how to use it with the personal 'a' (agraviar a alguien). At this level, you use 'agraviar' to discuss social issues, politics, and literature. It is a key word for expressing indignation and demanding justice. You understand that it carries a historical weight related to the concept of honor.

At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of 'agraviar'. You can use it to discuss subtle social slights and complex legal grievances. You recognize it in high-level literature (like Cervantes or García Márquez) and understand the cultural implications of 'honor' that it carries. You can use it figuratively and in sophisticated passive constructions. You also know its synonyms like 'ultrajar' or 'injuriar' and can choose the exact right word for the level of offense. Your use of 'agraviar' is natural and well-placed within formal arguments or academic essays.

At the C2 level, 'agraviar' is a tool you use with precision. You understand its etymological roots and how its meaning has evolved over centuries. You can identify its use in archaic texts where it might have slightly different connotations. You use it to navigate the most formal and sensitive social situations in the Spanish-speaking world, from high-level diplomacy to complex legal disputes. You are aware of regional variations in its frequency and can adapt your vocabulary accordingly. For a C2 speaker, 'agraviar' is not just a word, but a concept that reflects the deep relationship between language, justice, and social standing in Hispanic culture.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

agraviar in 30 Seconds

Agraviar means to wrong, offend, or treat someone with injustice, particularly regarding their honor.
It is a formal verb, commonly found in legal, journalistic, and literary Spanish contexts.
It is a regular -ar verb but requires the personal 'a' when the object is a person.
It is often confused with 'agravar' (to make worse), which is a common false friend.

The Spanish verb agraviar is a sophisticated term that goes beyond a simple insult. At its core, it refers to the act of causing an offense, a wrong, or an injustice to someone, often affecting their honor, dignity, or legal standing. While in everyday conversation a Spaniard might use 'ofender' or 'molestar', agraviar carries a weight of formality and gravity that suggests a deeper moral or social transgression. It is frequently encountered in legal, journalistic, and literary contexts where the impact of an action on a person's reputation is being discussed.

The Concept of Honor: In Hispanic culture, the concept of 'pundonor' (self-respect/honor) is historical and deep-seated. To agraviar someone is to strike at this core. It isn't just about making someone feel bad; it's about diminishing their value in the eyes of society or the law. Historically, an 'agravio' (the noun form) was a formal grievance that required a 'desagravio' (redress or apology).
Legal and Formal Tones: When you read Spanish news, you might see this word used in headlines regarding political scandals or human rights. For instance, a group might feel agraviado by a new government policy. This implies that they haven't just been inconvenienced, but that their fundamental rights or dignity have been violated.
Emotional Resonance: While formal, it is not cold. It expresses a sense of indignation. If someone says 'Me siento agraviado', they are communicating a profound sense of having been treated unfairly. It is the language of someone who is standing up for themselves against an injustice.

El artículo periodístico buscaba agraviar la imagen pública del candidato sin pruebas reales.

Example: Using the word in a context of public reputation.

Understanding agraviar requires an appreciation for the nuances of Spanish social interaction. In a B2 level context, you are expected to distinguish between 'insultar' (using bad words) and 'agraviar' (committing a moral or formal offense). For example, if a judge makes a biased ruling, he is agraviando the defendant. If a neighbor yells at you, he is likely just insultando you. The distinction lies in the perceived authority, the lasting nature of the harm, and the formal context of the interaction. In literature, characters often duel to 'limpiar un agravio' (clear an offense), highlighting how central this word is to the vocabulary of justice and social standing.

Sentirse agraviado por una decisión injusta es el primer paso para luchar por el cambio.

Using agraviar correctly involves understanding its transitive nature. In Spanish, when you wrong someone, you 'agravias a alguien'. The use of the personal 'a' is mandatory here because the object of the action is a person. Furthermore, the reflexive form 'agraviarse' or the passive construction 'sentirse agraviado' are perhaps more common in modern speech than the active verb itself.

The Active Voice: When a person or entity is the source of the offense. 'La empresa agravió a sus empleados al no pagar los bonos prometidos.' (The company wronged its employees by not paying the promised bonuses). Here, the focus is on the perpetrator's action.
The Passive/Reflexive State: Focusing on the victim's perspective. 'Muchos ciudadanos se sintieron agraviados por las nuevas leyes de impuestos.' (Many citizens felt wronged by the new tax laws). This is the most natural way to express indignation in a formal setting.

Es difícil perdonar a quien intenta agraviar tu buen nombre con mentiras.

In terms of grammar, agraviar follows the regular conjugation of -ar verbs. It does not have any stem changes (e-ie or o-ue), making it relatively easy to conjugate once you know the base. However, its placement in a sentence often requires a level of formality. You wouldn't typically use it when talking to a child about a playground scuffle; you would save it for a discussion about a breach of contract, a public insult by a politician, or a historical injustice.

No era su intención agraviar a la familia del difunto con su comentario.

Consider the following nuances: 'ofender' is the general term for offending. 'Insultar' is specifically verbal. 'Humillar' is to lower someone's pride. Agraviar is the overarching term for an injustice that demands some form of restoration. It is the verb of 'grievances'. When you write a formal complaint letter, you are documenting how you have been agraviado.

¿Cómo podemos agraviar menos y dialogar más en esta sociedad?

While agraviar might not be the first word you hear at a bustling Spanish market, it is omnipresent in the 'cultivated' Spanish spheres. If you tune into a Spanish news broadcast like RTVE or read an editorial in 'El País', you will encounter it frequently. It is the language of the 'telediario' (news) when discussing international conflicts or domestic political strife. Politicians use it to describe the actions of their opponents, framing them as not just mistakes, but as direct offenses against the people.

The Courtroom: In legal proceedings, the 'agraviado' is the victim or the party that has suffered damage. Lawyers will argue that their client has been agraviado by a specific action. You will see this in legal documents, 'autos judiciales', and police reports.
Literature and Period Dramas: If you watch series like 'La Casa de Papel' (in its more formal moments) or historical dramas like 'Isabel', the word appears constantly. It captures the essence of medieval and early modern Spanish life where honor was everything. A knight would feel agraviado by a slight and seek a duel.

El orador denunció que las medidas económicas servían para agraviar aún más a las clases bajas.

In academic settings, particularly in history or sociology lectures, agraviar is used to describe the systemic mistreatment of groups. A professor might talk about how a certain minority was agraviada throughout the 19th century. This highlights the word's utility in discussing serious, long-term injustices rather than fleeting personal feelings. It is also common in formal speeches or 'discursos de investidura', where a leader promises not to agraviar the rights of the citizens.

En el debate parlamentario, el diputado se quejó de que el ministro intentaba agraviar su reputación profesional.

Finally, in the world of high-level diplomacy and international relations, agraviar is used to describe diplomatic slights. If one country fails to invite another to a summit, the excluded nation might claim they have been agraviadas. This usage underscores the word's role in the 'protocolo' of human and state relations.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make with agraviar is confusing it with the English word 'aggravate'. While they look similar and share a root, their meanings in modern usage are quite different. In English, 'to aggravate' usually means to make a problem worse (like aggravating an injury). In Spanish, agraviar means to offend or wrong a person. The Spanish word for 'to aggravate/make worse' is agravar.

Agraviar vs. Agravar: This is the 'false friend' trap. If you say 'La lluvia agravió mi resfriado', you are saying the rain 'offended' your cold, which makes no sense. You should say 'La lluvia agravó mi resfriado'. Use agraviar only when there is a victim of an offense.
Register Errors: Using agraviar in a very casual setting can sound overly dramatic or even sarcastic. If a friend takes the last slice of pizza, saying 'Me has agraviado' sounds like you are acting in a Shakespearean play. In that case, 'Me has molestado' or '¡Oye, qué mal!' is better.

Incorrecto: El humo agravió su asma.
Correcto: El humo agravó su asma.

Another common error is forgetting the personal 'a'. Because agraviar almost always targets a person or a collective group of people, it requires the 'a' preposition. 'Agraviar el sistema' is possible (to wrong the system), but 'Agraviar Juan' is incorrect; it must be 'Agraviar a Juan'.

Muchos estudiantes confunden agraviar (offend) con agravar (worsen) por su similitud fonética.

Lastly, learners sometimes struggle with the reflexive usage. 'Se agravió' means 'he/she felt offended/wronged'. It does not mean 'he/she offended himself/herself' in most contexts, but rather describes the state of mind resulting from an external action. Understanding this 'passive-reflexive' nuance is key to mastering B2 level Spanish.

To truly master agraviar, you must see where it sits in the constellation of Spanish 'offense' verbs. Each has a specific flavor and register. Using the right one shows you have moved beyond basic vocabulary. Agraviar is the 'heavyweight' of the group, usually involving a breach of rights or honor.

Ofender: The most common and versatile term. It can be used for small social slights or major insults. If you aren't sure which word to use, 'ofender' is usually a safe bet. It focuses on the feeling of the person who receives the action.
Injuriar: This is a legalistic term. An 'injuria' is a specific type of legal offense involving defamation or verbal assault. It is more technical than agraviar and specifically implies that the words spoken were false or malicious.
Vituperar: A very formal, almost literary word meaning to criticize someone harshly or to scold them publicly. It lacks the 'injustice' component of agraviar, focusing instead on the harshness of the criticism.
Ultrajar: This is even stronger than agraviar. It implies a grave insult or an act of contempt that is deeply shocking. It is often used in the context of 'ultrajar la bandera' (desecrating the flag).

Mientras que 'ofender' es común, agraviar implica una injusticia que requiere reparación.

When choosing an alternative, consider the 'reparability'. If you want to emphasize that the person deserves an apology or compensation, agraviar is the best choice. If you just want to say they were upset, 'ofender' or 'disgustar' is better. In a business context, 'perjudicar' (to harm/damage) is a common alternative when the 'offense' is financial or professional rather than moral.

No busco agraviar a nadie, solo quiero que se sepa la verdad de lo ocurrido.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"La institución no pretende agraviar a sus miembros con esta normativa."

Neutral

"Se siente agraviado porque no le dieron el crédito que merecía."

Informal

"No te agravies por lo que dijo, estaba bromeando."

Child friendly

"No debemos portarnos mal con los amigos ni hacerles cosas feas."

Slang

"Me ha hecho una putada y me siento agraviado."

Fun Fact

The word 'agraviar' and 'gravity' are linguistic cousins! Both come from the Latin word for 'heavy'. While gravity pulls objects down, an 'agravio' pulls a person's reputation or spirit down.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /a.ɡɾa.ˈβjaɾ/

US /a.ɡɾa.ˈβjaɾ/

The stress is on the final syllable: '-ar'.

Rhymes With

hablar estudiar amar pensar caminar enviar confiar desafiar

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'v' like an English 'v' (with teeth on lips). In Spanish, 'b' and 'v' sound the same.
Stressing the 'i' (agravi-ar) instead of the 'a' (agraviar). The 'ia' is a diphthong.
Using a hard 'g' like in 'goat' when it should be slightly softer between vowels.
Making the 'r' too long or rolling it like a double 'rr'.
Pronouncing the 'a' sounds like in 'cat' instead of 'father'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 4/5

Frequently found in newspapers and literature, requiring context to distinguish from 'agravar'.

Writing 7/5

Requires careful use of the personal 'a' and correct register.

Speaking 6/5

Not used in daily slang, but essential for formal discussions.

Listening 5/5

Must be distinguished from 'agravar' in fast speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

grave ofender derecho honor sentir

Learn Next

desagraviar injuriar vituperar resarcir indemnizar

Advanced

prejuicio menoscabo detrimento vulneración

Grammar to Know

Personal 'a'

Agraviar a los ciudadanos.

Passive Voice with 'ser'

Fue agraviado por la prensa.

Subjunctive with 'esperar que'

Espero que no me agravies.

Reflexive use for feelings

Se agravió al oír el rumor.

Past Participle as Adjective

La persona agraviada.

Examples by Level

Él no quiere agraviar a su amigo.

He doesn't want to wrong his friend.

Simple present tense with 'querer' + infinitive.

Es malo agraviar a las personas.

It is bad to wrong people.

Infinitive used as a subject.

¿Por qué quieres agraviar a María?

Why do you want to wrong Maria?

Interrogative sentence with personal 'a'.

No debemos agraviar a nadie.

We must not wrong anyone.

Modal verb 'deber' + negative.

Ella se siente agraviada hoy.

She feels wronged today.

Reflexive verb 'sentirse' + past participle as adjective.

El niño no quiso agraviar a su madre.

The boy didn't want to wrong his mother.

Preterite tense of 'querer'.

Agraviar es una palabra difícil.

To wrong is a difficult word.

Infinitive as a noun.

Yo nunca agravio a mis padres.

I never wrong my parents.

Present tense, 1st person singular.

El jefe agravió a los trabajadores con sus palabras.

The boss wronged the workers with his words.

Preterite tense, regular -ar conjugation.

Me sentí agraviado cuando no me invitaron.

I felt wronged when they didn't invite me.

Reflexive preterite of 'sentirse'.

No es bueno agraviar a los vecinos.

It's not good to wrong the neighbors.

Impersonal 'es' + adjective + infinitive.

La noticia agravió a mucha gente en el pueblo.

The news wronged many people in the town.

Direct object with quantifier 'mucha gente'.

El juez no quiso agraviar a la víctima.

The judge did not want to wrong the victim.

Negative 'no quiso' + infinitive.

Ellos se agravian por cosas pequeñas.

They feel wronged by small things.

Present reflexive 'se agravian'.

Tu comentario puede agraviar a tu hermana.

Your comment can wrong your sister.

Modal verb 'puede' + infinitive.

Pedí perdón para no agraviar a nadie más.

I apologized so as not to wrong anyone else.

Final clause with 'para no' + infinitive.

Si sigues hablando así, vas a agraviar a todo el equipo.

If you keep talking like that, you're going to wrong the whole team.

Conditional 'si' + present, followed by 'ir a' + infinitive.

La empresa fue acusada de agraviar los derechos de los usuarios.

The company was accused of wronging the rights of the users.

Passive construction 'fue acusada de' + infinitive.

Espero que mi carta no haya agraviado al director.

I hope my letter hasn't wronged the director.

Present perfect subjunctive after 'espero que'.

Se sintieron agraviados al descubrir la verdad sobre el contrato.

They felt wronged upon discovering the truth about the contract.

Reflexive preterite + 'al' + infinitive.

El político intentó no agraviar a ninguna minoría durante su discurso.

The politician tried not to wrong any minority during his speech.

Infinitive phrase with 'intentó no'.

No deberías agraviar a las personas que te ayudan.

You shouldn't wrong the people who help you.

Conditional mood for advice.

Muchos se agraviaron por la falta de respeto en la reunión.

Many felt wronged by the lack of respect in the meeting.

Reflexive preterite, 3rd person plural.

Es posible que hayamos agraviado a alguien sin querer.

It's possible that we have wronged someone without meaning to.

Present perfect subjunctive after 'es posible que'.

El informe pericial concluyó que la constructora agravió a los propietarios.

The expert report concluded that the construction company wronged the owners.

Formal reporting verb 'concluyó que'.

No se puede agraviar la memoria de un difunto impunemente.

One cannot wrong the memory of a deceased person with impunity.

Impersonal 'se' construction with 'poder'.

La sentencia judicial busca reparar a los ciudadanos agraviados.

The judicial sentence seeks to compensate the wronged citizens.

Adjectival use of the past participle 'agraviados'.

El embajador protestó formalmente por considerar que se había agraviado a su nación.

The ambassador formally protested, considering that his nation had been wronged.

Past perfect subjunctive in a subordinate clause.

Resulta ofensivo agraviar a quienes han sacrificado tanto por el país.

It is offensive to wrong those who have sacrificed so much for the country.

Impersonal 'resulta' + adjective + infinitive.

A pesar de sus disculpas, muchos se siguen sintiendo agraviados.

Despite his apologies, many continue to feel wronged.

Concessive phrase 'A pesar de' + present continuous.

El autor fue criticado por agraviar la sensibilidad de ciertos colectivos.

The author was criticized for wronging the sensitivity of certain groups.

Passive voice 'fue criticado por'.

Es fundamental no agraviar la dignidad humana en nombre del progreso.

It is fundamental not to wrong human dignity in the name of progress.

Negative infinitive in a formal statement.

La retórica del candidato parecía diseñada específicamente para agraviar a sus oponentes.

The candidate's rhetoric seemed specifically designed to wrong his opponents.

Complex sentence with past participle used as an adjective.

Se considera un delito agraviar la corona en ciertos contextos históricos.

It is considered a crime to wrong the crown in certain historical contexts.

Passive reflexive 'se considera'.

El filósofo argumentaba que agraviar la verdad es el peor de los males sociales.

The philosopher argued that wronging the truth is the worst of social evils.

Infinitive as a subject in an indirect speech clause.

Las víctimas se sintieron profundamente agraviadas por la lentitud de la justicia.

The victims felt deeply wronged by the slowness of justice.

Adverb 'profundamente' modifying the past participle.

Es imperativo que el estado no agravie a los ciudadanos mediante leyes injustas.

It is imperative that the state does not wrong citizens through unjust laws.

Subjunctive mood after 'es imperativo que'.

Su silencio fue interpretado como un intento de agraviar a la familia.

His silence was interpreted as an attempt to wrong the family.

Passive voice 'fue interpretado'.

No podemos permitir que se agravie la libertad de expresión de esta manera.

We cannot allow freedom of expression to be wronged in this way.

Subjunctive 'se agravie' after 'permitir que'.

El artículo no solo critica, sino que busca agraviar deliberadamente la reputación del actor.

The article not only criticizes, but seeks to deliberately wrong the actor's reputation.

Correlative conjunction 'no solo... sino que'.

La historiografía moderna analiza cómo se agravió a las poblaciones indígenas sistemáticamente.

Modern historiography analyzes how indigenous populations were systematically wronged.

Impersonal 'se' with a past tense verb.

Resulta paradójico que, al intentar defender la justicia, terminaran por agraviar a los inocentes.

It is paradoxical that, while trying to defend justice, they ended up wronging the innocent.

Subjunctive 'terminaran' after 'resulta paradójico que'.

Cualquier intento de agraviar la soberanía nacional será respondido con firmeza.

Any attempt to wrong national sovereignty will be met with firmness.

Future passive 'será respondido'.

El texto literario utiliza la metáfora para mostrar cómo las palabras pueden agraviar más que las armas.

The literary text uses metaphor to show how words can wrong more than weapons.

Comparative structure 'más que'.

Se instó al gobierno a que dejara de agraviar los derechos fundamentales de la prensa.

The government was urged to stop wronging the fundamental rights of the press.

Past subjunctive 'dejara' after 'instar a que'.

La sutil ironía del autor servía para agraviar a la aristocracia sin que esta se diera cuenta.

The author's subtle irony served to wrong the aristocracy without them noticing.

Subjunctive 'se diera cuenta' after 'sin que'.

No es lícito agraviar a un tercero para obtener un beneficio personal en un litigio.

It is not lawful to wrong a third party to obtain a personal benefit in a litigation.

Formal legal language.

La magnitud del daño moral causado al agraviar su honor es incalculable.

The magnitude of the moral damage caused by wronging his honor is incalculable.

Gerund phrase 'al agraviar' acting as a cause.

Common Collocations

agraviar el honor

sentirse agraviado

agraviar profundamente

agraviar a la víctima

agraviar la memoria

agraviar los intereses

agraviar la dignidad

agraviar a un tercero

agraviar gravemente

agraviar de palabra

Common Phrases

sentirse agraviado en sus derechos

— To feel that one's legal rights have been violated.

Cualquier ciudadano que se sienta agraviado en sus derechos puede acudir al tribunal.

agraviar la situación

— Often used incorrectly for 'agravar', but in the sense of making a situation offensive.

Su risa solo sirvió para agraviar la situación ya de por sí tensa.

agraviar el decoro

— To offend the sense of decency or proper behavior.

Su vestimenta fue considerada un intento de agraviar el decoro del evento.

agraviar a la corona

— A specific legal offense in monarchies involving insults to the royal family.

En el pasado, agraviar a la corona se castigaba con la cárcel.

agraviar la verdad

— To act in a way that is an offense against the truth (to lie or distort).

Con sus declaraciones, el testigo no hizo más que agraviar la verdad.

agraviar los sentimientos

— To cause deep emotional pain or offense.

No era su intención agraviar los sentimientos de su madre.

agraviar la fe

— To offend religious beliefs.

La película fue criticada por agraviar la fe de muchos espectadores.

agraviar el buen nombre

— To damage someone's reputation.

Ese rumor solo sirve para agraviar el buen nombre de la empresa.

agraviar la justicia

— To commit an act that is an offense to the principle of justice.

Corromper a un testigo es una forma de agraviar la justicia.

agraviar por omisión

— To wrong someone by failing to act (omission).

A veces se puede agraviar a alguien simplemente por omisión.

Often Confused With

agraviar vs agravar

Means to make a situation worse. It never takes a person as a direct object in that sense.

agraviar vs agraciar

Means to grace or favor someone. It is the opposite of wronging them.

agraviar vs agarrar

Means to grab. Only phonetically similar for beginners.

Idioms & Expressions

"limpiar un agravio"

— To restore one's honor after an offense, often through an apology or a duel in literature.

El caballero juró limpiar el agravio cometido contra su linaje.

Literary/Archaic

"devolver el agravio"

— To retaliate or get revenge for an offense.

En lugar de perdonar, decidió devolver el agravio con la misma moneda.

Formal

"reparar el agravio"

— To offer compensation or a formal apology to fix a wrong.

La empresa tuvo que reparar el agravio pagando una indemnización.

Formal/Legal

"hacerse el agraviado"

— To pretend to be offended in order to gain sympathy or an advantage.

No te hagas el agraviado, todos sabemos que tú tuviste la culpa.

Informal

"quedar agraviado"

— To remain in a state of feeling wronged or offended.

Tras la discusión, el hermano menor quedó agraviado por mucho tiempo.

Neutral

"poner un agravio sobre otro"

— To keep adding offenses to an already bad situation.

Su desprecio fue poner un agravio sobre otro en su relación.

Literary

"tragar un agravio"

— To endure an offense without complaining or reacting.

Tuvo que tragar el agravio para no perder su empleo.

Neutral

"agravio comparativo"

— When someone feels wronged because someone else received better treatment.

El aumento de sueldo solo para unos pocos creó un agravio comparativo.

Formal/Economic

"sin agravio de"

— Without prejudice to or without causing harm to (legal term).

Se puede proceder sin agravio de los derechos de autor.

Legal

"lavar el agravio con sangre"

— A dramatic idiom meaning to avenge an offense through violence.

En las tragedias clásicas, se solía lavar el agravio con sangre.

Literary/Dramatic

Easily Confused

agraviar vs agravar

Phonetic similarity and shared root.

Agravar is for situations/illnesses (worsen); Agraviar is for persons/honor (offend).

La crisis se agravó (worsened); El hombre se sintió agraviado (offended).

agraviar vs ofender

Similar meaning.

Ofender is broader and more common; Agraviar is more formal and implies injustice.

Me ofende tu tono; Me agravia tu decisión injusta.

agraviar vs insultar

Both involve negative actions towards others.

Insultar is verbal/explicit; Agraviar can be an action, a law, or a slight to honor.

Me insultó en la calle; La ley agravió a la clase media.

agraviar vs perjudicar

Both involve harming someone.

Perjudicar is about material or physical harm; Agraviar is about moral or legal harm.

El tabaco perjudica la salud; La mentira agravió su honor.

agraviar vs humillar

Both affect a person's dignity.

Humillar is specifically about making someone feel small; Agraviar is about the wrongness of the act.

Lo humilló delante de todos; Lo agravió al quitarle su puesto.

Sentence Patterns

[Sujeto] + agraviar + a + [Persona]

El jefe agravió a su secretaria.

Sentirse + agraviado + por + [Causa]

Me siento agraviado por tu actitud.

Resultar + [Adjetivo] + agraviar + a + [Persona]

Resulta injusto agraviar a los inocentes.

Sin + intención + de + agraviar

Lo dije sin intención de agraviar.

[Sujeto] + ser + agraviado + en + [Derechos/Honor]

Fue agraviado en su honor.

Al + agraviar + [Objeto], + [Consecuencia]

Al agraviar la ley, perdió su credibilidad.

No + querer + agraviar + a + nadie

No quiero agraviar a nadie.

Cualquier + intento + de + agraviar

Cualquier intento de agraviar será castigado.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Moderately high in formal Spanish; low in colloquial speech.

Common Mistakes

El humo agravió mi asma. → El humo agravó mi asma.
'Agraviar' is for offending people; 'agravar' is for worsening conditions.
Agravió el niño. → Agravió al niño.
Missing the personal 'a' for a human direct object.
Me siento agravado. → Me siento agraviado.
Confusing the past participles of agravar and agraviar.
No quiero agraviar tu problema. → No quiero agravar tu problema.
Using 'agraviar' for a situation/problem instead of a person.
Él agravia de mí. → Él me agravia.
Agraviar is a transitive verb and doesn't take the preposition 'de'.

Tips

Formal Writing

Use 'agraviar' in a formal complaint letter to express that your rights were violated. It sounds more serious than 'molestar'.

Personal 'a'

Don't forget: 'Agraviar A alguien'. Without the 'a', the sentence is grammatically incorrect when referring to people.

False Friend Alert

Never use 'agraviar' to mean 'to make a situation worse'. That is 'agravar'.

Don Quijote

If you read Don Quijote, look for the word 'agravio'. It's central to his mission as a knight-errant.

Dramatic Effect

Using 'agraviar' in a semi-formal argument can add a touch of sophistication and show that you take the offense seriously.

Legal Context

In law, the 'agraviado' is the victim. Knowing this helps you understand Spanish legal news.

Stress the End

Remember the stress is on the last syllable: a-gra-VIAR. This is true for all infinitives in Spanish.

Register Awareness

Save 'agraviar' for when honor, dignity, or rights are at stake. Don't waste it on trivial matters.

Synonym Choice

If you want to sound even more literary, try 'ultrajar'. If you want to be more common, use 'ofender'.

Desagravio

Learn the word 'desagravio' as well. It's the solution to an 'agravio'—a way to make things right.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Aggravated Offense'. 'Agraviar' sounds like 'aggravate', but instead of making a situation worse, you are making a PERSON feel worse by wronging them.

Visual Association

Imagine a person carrying a heavy stone labeled 'OFFENSE'. The act of 'agraviar' is putting that heavy stone on their shoulders.

Word Web

Honor Justicia Ofensa Derechos Grave Reputación Ley Indignación

Challenge

Try to write a sentence using 'agraviar' and 'derechos' (rights) in the same sentence to describe a news event you recently heard about.

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin 'aggravare', which is composed of the prefix 'ad-' (towards) and 'gravare' (to weigh down/make heavy). The root is 'gravis' (heavy).

Original meaning: To make heavy or to burden. In a moral sense, it evolved to mean placing a 'heavy' burden of offense on someone's honor.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

Be careful when using this word; it implies you are making a very serious accusation. It is not for lighthearted teasing.

English speakers often use 'aggravate' for situations, but 'agraviar' is strictly for persons or their abstract qualities like honor.

Don Quijote de la Mancha: Cervantes frequently uses 'agravio' as the hero seeks to 'deshacer agravios' (undo wrongs). Classical Spanish Theatre (Lope de Vega): The 'honra' (honor) plays center entirely on 'agravios'. Modern Political Speeches: Common in UN-level addresses by Spanish-speaking leaders.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Legal Proceedings

La parte agraviada
Reparar el daño
Interponer un recurso
Agravio moral

Journalism/Politics

Sentirse agraviado por la ley
Declaraciones agraviantes
Colectivos agraviados
Agravio comparativo

Literature

Deshacer un agravio
Vengar el agravio
Limpiar el honor
Quedar agraviado

Customer Service (Formal)

Me siento agraviado por el trato
Exigir un desagravio
Agravio en el servicio
Compensar al cliente

Historical Analysis

Pueblos agraviados
Agravios históricos
Memoria agraviada
Injusticia sistémica

Conversation Starters

"¿Alguna vez te has sentido agraviado por una decisión de tu empresa?"

"¿Crees que es fácil perdonar a alguien que intenta agraviar tu honor?"

"En tu país, ¿qué se suele hacer para reparar un agravio público?"

"¿Qué personajes literarios conoces que busquen deshacer agravios?"

"¿Crees que las redes sociales facilitan el agraviar a los demás?"

Journal Prompts

Describe una situación en la que te sentiste agraviado y cómo lo manejaste.

Escribe una carta formal de queja sobre un servicio que haya agraviado tus derechos como consumidor.

Reflexiona sobre la diferencia entre 'ofender' y 'agraviar' en tu propia vida.

¿Cómo puede una sociedad reparar los agravios históricos cometidos contra las minorías?

Escribe un cuento corto sobre un caballero moderno que busca limpiar un agravio en la oficina.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Esta es la confusión más común. 'Agravar' significa empeorar algo (como una enfermedad o un problema). 'Agraviar' significa ofender a alguien o tratarlo con injusticia. Por ejemplo: 'El frío agravó su tos' frente a 'Su mentira agravió mi honor'.

Puedes, pero suena muy formal o dramático. Si un amigo te hace una broma, decir 'me has agraviado' suena como una película antigua. Es mejor decir 'me has molestado' o 'me ha sentado mal'.

Sí, es un verbo totalmente regular que termina en -ar. Se conjuga como 'amar' o 'hablar'. No tiene cambios en la raíz.

Significa sentir que has sido tratado de manera injusta o que alguien ha dañado tu honor o dignidad. Es común en contextos legales o de quejas formales.

Se usa principalmente en contextos formales, noticias, leyes y literatura. En la calle, la gente prefiere 'ofender' o 'fastidiar'.

El sustantivo es 'agravio'. Significa una ofensa o un perjuicio que se hace a alguien. Por ejemplo: 'Recibir un agravio'.

Es un término económico y social que ocurre cuando una persona se siente injustamente tratada porque otros en su misma situación reciben mejores beneficios.

Sí, siempre agravias 'a algo' o 'a alguien'. Requiere un objeto directo.

'Agraviar' es una de las mejores traducciones para 'to wrong' en un sentido serio o formal. Otras opciones son 'hacer una injusticia' o 'tratar mal'.

El antónimo más directo es 'desagraviar', que significa dar satisfacción u ofrecer una disculpa por una ofensa.