When discussing freedom of expression or media control, censurar is the perfect verb to use. It specifically refers to the act of an authority or institution reviewing content and removing or altering parts deemed objectionable. This is often done to control information or maintain certain societal standards.
You might hear it in contexts related to government actions, artistic expression, or even social media moderation. Understanding this verb helps you talk about important societal issues in Spanish.
censurar em 30 segundos
- b1
- b2
- b3
§ What does it mean and when do people use it?
Alright, let's get straight to it. Today we're looking at the Spanish verb censurar. You might already guess what it means because it looks and sounds a lot like its English counterpart, "to censor." And you'd be right! But, like many words, it has its nuances, and understanding those makes all the difference when you're trying to sound natural in Spanish.
- DEFINITION
- To examine (a book, movie, etc.) officially and suppress unacceptable parts.
So, when do people use censurar? Primarily, it's used in contexts where some authority—be it a government, a school, or even a company—is reviewing content and deciding to remove or alter parts of it because they deem it offensive, dangerous, or otherwise inappropriate. Think about movies, books, news articles, or even social media posts. If someone in power is scrutinizing these things and cutting out bits, they are censurando them.
It's a formal word, often associated with official acts. You wouldn't typically use it for, say, your friend telling you to rephrase a text message. That's more like editing or suggesting changes. Censurar carries a heavier implication of control and suppression.
Here are some common scenarios where you'd hear or use censurar:
- Government censorship: This is probably the most common association. Governments often censuran media during times of war or political unrest to control information.
- School censorship: Sometimes schools might censuran books from their libraries or specific topics from the curriculum if they are considered controversial or age-inappropriate.
- Corporate censorship: A company might censurar an advertisement if it doesn't align with their brand image or if it could cause public outcry.
- Social media platforms: These platforms often face criticism for censurando users' content, especially when it comes to hate speech or misinformation.
Let's look at some examples to really solidify your understanding:
El gobierno decidió censurar varias películas por su contenido político.
Here, "El gobierno decidió censurar varias películas..." means "The government decided to censor several movies..." You see how direct and clear it is. No ambiguity there.
Los padres protestaron porque la escuela quería censurar ciertos libros de la biblioteca.
In this example, "...la escuela quería censurar ciertos libros..." translates to "...the school wanted to censor certain books..." Again, a clear action of suppression by an authority (the school).
La plataforma de redes sociales tuvo que censurar las publicaciones que incitaban al odio.
This one, "La plataforma de redes sociales tuvo que censurar las publicaciones..." means "The social media platform had to censor the posts..." This reflects the contemporary use of the word in digital spaces.
So, while the meaning of censurar is quite close to "censor" in English, always remember its association with official scrutiny and the authoritative suppression or alteration of content. It's a strong verb, and its usage often implies a lack of freedom or a restriction of expression. You wouldn't use it lightly. Keep practicing these examples, and you'll get the hang of when and how to deploy censurar correctly in your Spanish conversations and writing.
§ Censurar in the News
When you read Spanish news, especially about politics, media, or arts, you'll likely see "censurar." It's used when governments, organizations, or even social groups try to control what information gets out. Think about stories related to freedom of speech or artistic expression.
El gobierno decidió censurar la película por su contenido controversial.
- Translation hint
- The government decided to censor the movie due to its controversial content.
Muchos artistas protestaron contra el intento de censurar su obra.
- Translation hint
- Many artists protested against the attempt to censor their work.
§ Censurar in Work and Professional Settings
While less common in everyday office talk, "censurar" can appear in discussions about company policies, internal communications, or even legal contexts. If there are rules about what can be published or said, this word might come up.
La empresa tuvo que censurar ciertas partes del informe para proteger información confidencial.
- Translation hint
- The company had to censor certain parts of the report to protect confidential information.
Se decidió no censurar el contenido de la campaña publicitaria.
- Translation hint
- It was decided not to censor the content of the advertising campaign.
§ Censurar in Schools and Academia
In an academic setting, "censurar" can refer to restricting access to books, ideas, or research. This often sparks debate about academic freedom. You might hear it in discussions about school library policies or curriculum choices.
The verb censurar can also mean to criticize strongly, or to reprimand, especially in a formal or public way. This is a common secondary meaning you'll encounter.
Los estudiantes se opusieron a que la dirección intentara censurar ciertos libros de la biblioteca.
- Translation hint
- The students opposed the administration's attempt to censor certain books from the library.
El profesor fue censurado por sus comentarios inapropiados en clase.
- Translation hint
- The professor was reprimanded (or censured) for his inappropriate comments in class.
§ Don't confuse 'censurar' with 'criticar'
Many English speakers, when learning Spanish, might mistakenly use 'censurar' when they actually mean to 'criticar'. While both words involve evaluating something, their core meanings are very different. 'Censurar' specifically implies an official action to suppress or remove content that is deemed unacceptable, often by an authority. 'Criticar', on the other hand, means to express disapproval or judgment, which can be done by anyone and doesn't necessarily involve suppression.
- DEFINITION
- To examine (a book, movie, etc.) officially and suppress unacceptable parts.
Think of it this way: a government might 'censurar' a movie by cutting certain scenes, but a film critic would 'criticar' the movie by writing a negative review. The critic doesn't have the power to remove content; they only express an opinion.
El gobierno decidió censurar el documental polémico. (The government decided to censor the controversial documentary.)
El crítico criticó duramente la película. (The critic criticized the film harshly.)
§ Using 'censurar' too broadly
Another common mistake is to use 'censurar' for any act of disapproval or negative judgment, even when no official suppression is involved. Remember, 'censurar' carries a strong implication of power and authority being used to restrict or remove content. If someone is just expressing their disagreement, 'criticar' or 'desaprobar' would be more appropriate.
- If your friend says your new haircut is bad, they are 'criticando' it, not 'censurando' it.
- If a teacher gives you a low grade on an essay, they are 'evaluando' or 'calificando' your work, and perhaps 'criticando' it, but not 'censurando' it.
- If a website removes a comment because it violates their terms of service, that's closer to 'censurar' because it involves an official action to suppress content.
Consider the nuance. If you're talking about someone's opinion or a general dislike, stick to words like 'criticar' (to criticize), 'desaprobar' (to disapprove), or 'no estar de acuerdo' (to disagree). 'Censurar' is reserved for those specific situations where there's an active effort to control information or expression by an authority.
No me gusta que critiquen mi forma de vestir. (I don't like when they criticize my way of dressing.)
La junta desaprobó la propuesta. (The board disapproved of the proposal.)
§ Passive vs. Active Censorship
Sometimes learners might use 'censurar' to describe situations where something is simply not published or not shown, without an active act of suppression. 'Censurar' implies a deliberate, active decision to remove or block something. If a book just doesn't get published because it's not good, that's not 'censura'. If a movie is never made because of funding issues, that's not 'censura'. 'Censura' is when an external force *prevents* the content from being distributed.
How Formal Is It?
"El comité decidió censurar la publicación por su contenido inapropiado. (The committee decided to censor the publication for its inappropriate content.)"
"La película fue censurada para su distribución en algunos países. (The movie was censored for distribution in some countries.)"
"Mis padres siempre me critican cuando no hago mis tareas. (My parents always criticize me when I don't do my homework.)"
"El pirata quiso tapar el mapa del tesoro para que nadie más lo viera. (The pirate wanted to cover up the treasure map so no one else would see it.)"
"Le cortaron la escena más interesante de la película. (They cut the most interesting scene from the movie.)"
Curiosidade
The Roman 'censor' was a magistrate who maintained public morals and supervised census. Their power was significant.
Gramática essencial
Verbs ending in -ar like 'censurar' are regular in the present tense. To conjugate them, remove the -ar ending and add the following endings: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an.
Yo censuro, tú censuras, él/ella/usted censura, nosotros censuramos, vosotros censuráis, ellos/ellas/ustedes censuran.
The verb 'censurar' can be used reflexively as 'censurarse' when the subject censors themselves or something belonging to them. In this case, it means 'to restrain oneself' or 'to self-censor'.
Él se censuró para no decir algo inapropiado. (He *restrained himself* so as not to say something inappropriate.)
When 'censurar' is used to refer to a person's behavior or actions, it can mean 'to criticize' or 'to reprimand'. In this context, it's often followed by a direct object pronoun.
Sus padres lo censuraron por su mal comportamiento. (His parents *reprimanded* him for his bad behavior.)
The past participle of 'censurar' is 'censurado/a', which can be used to form compound tenses (e.g., 'ha censurado') or as an adjective.
La canción ha sido censurada en la radio. (The song has been *censored* on the radio.)
The subjunctive mood is often used after expressions of emotion, doubt, or subjective opinions, which can apply when discussing actions of censorship. For example, if expressing doubt about censorship.
Dudo que el gobierno censure el libro. (I doubt that the government *would censor* the book.)
Exemplos por nível
El gobierno decidió censurar la película.
The government decided to censor the movie.
Simple past tense (pretérito indefinido).
No me gusta que censuren los libros.
I don't like them censoring books.
Subjunctive mood after 'no me gusta que'.
La canción fue censurada por su letra polémica.
The song was censored for its controversial lyrics.
Passive voice (ser + past participle).
Los padres pueden censurar el contenido que ven sus hijos.
Parents can censor the content their children watch.
Present tense, 'ver' is 'to watch'.
Antes censuraban muchas cosas en la televisión.
Before, they used to censor many things on television.
Imperfect tense (pretérito imperfecto) for habitual past actions.
Es importante no censurar las opiniones de los demás.
It's important not to censor other people's opinions.
Infinitive after 'es importante'.
El periódico tuvo que censurar parte del artículo.
The newspaper had to censor part of the article.
Past tense of 'tener que' (to have to).
Si censuras mis ideas, no podremos hablar libremente.
If you censor my ideas, we won't be able to talk freely.
Conditional sentence, present tense for the 'if' clause and future tense for the result.
El gobierno decidió censurar la película por su contenido violento.
The government decided to censor the film for its violent content.
Verb 'censurar' in preterite tense.
Muchos padres quieren censurar los videojuegos para proteger a sus hijos.
Many parents want to censor video games to protect their children.
Infinitive 'censurar' used after 'querer'.
La dictadura solía censurar todas las noticias antes de publicarlas.
The dictatorship used to censor all news before publishing it.
Verb 'censurar' in imperfect tense, expressing habitual action in the past.
Es peligroso censurar la libertad de expresión en una sociedad democrática.
It is dangerous to censor freedom of expression in a democratic society.
Infinitive 'censurar' used as a noun.
El comité tiene el poder de censurar cualquier material que consideren inapropiado.
The committee has the power to censor any material they consider inappropriate.
Infinitive 'censurar' used after 'tener el poder de'.
No deberíamos censurar las opiniones diferentes, sino discutirlas.
We shouldn't censor different opinions, but discuss them.
Infinitive 'censurar' used after the modal verb 'deber'.
Algunos países censuran el acceso a internet para controlar la información.
Some countries censor internet access to control information.
Verb 'censurar' in present tense.
La editorial se negó a censurar partes del libro, defendiendo la obra del autor.
The publisher refused to censor parts of the book, defending the author's work.
Infinitive 'censurar' used after 'negarse a'.
La dictadura intentó censurar todas las obras de arte críticas con el régimen.
The dictatorship tried to censor all works of art critical of the regime.
Past tense of 'intentar' (to try) and 'censurar' (to censor).
Los padres pidieron a la escuela que censurara ciertos libros de la biblioteca escolar.
The parents asked the school to censor certain books from the school library.
Past tense of 'pedir' (to ask for) and subjunctive 'censurara' after 'que'.
Algunos países todavía censuran el contenido de internet para controlar la información que reciben sus ciudadanos.
Some countries still censor internet content to control the information their citizens receive.
Present tense of 'censurar' and 'recibir' (to receive).
La película fue censurada en varias escenas antes de su estreno en ese país.
The movie was censored in several scenes before its premiere in that country.
Passive voice with 'fue censurada'.
El comité decidió censurar la publicación por su contenido controversial.
The committee decided to censor the publication due to its controversial content.
Past tense of 'decidir' (to decide) followed by the infinitive 'censurar'.
Es difícil censurar ideas en la era digital, ya que la información se propaga rápidamente.
It's difficult to censor ideas in the digital age, as information spreads quickly.
Impersonal expression 'Es difícil' followed by the infinitive 'censurar'.
Los críticos acusaron al gobierno de censurar la libertad de expresión.
Critics accused the government of censoring freedom of expression.
Past tense of 'acusar' (to accuse) and gerund 'censurando' implied in the English translation.
Aunque la obra fue censurada, los artistas encontraron formas de expresar su mensaje.
Although the work was censored, the artists found ways to express their message.
Passive voice 'fue censurada' and past tense of 'encontrar' (to find) and 'expresar' (to express).
La dictadura militar se encargó de censurar cualquier tipo de manifestación artística que no se alineara con sus ideales.
The military dictatorship was responsible for censoring any type of artistic expression that did not align with its ideals.
Here, 'censurar' is used in the past tense to describe an action taken by a regime.
Es fundamental que los ciudadanos se opongan a cualquier intento del gobierno de censurar la prensa libre.
It is fundamental that citizens oppose any attempt by the government to censor the free press.
'Censurar' is used as an infinitive following 'de' (of/to), indicating the action being opposed.
El comité decidió censurar algunas escenas de la película para que pudiera ser apta para todo público.
The committee decided to censor some scenes from the movie so that it could be suitable for all audiences.
Here, 'censurar' is an infinitive following 'decidió' (decided), indicating the decision made.
Muchos artistas se quejan de que sus obras son censuradas por motivos políticos o religiosos.
Many artists complain that their works are censored for political or religious reasons.
'Censuradas' is the past participle used as an adjective, agreeing in gender and number with 'obras' (works).
La plataforma de streaming ha sido criticada por censurar contenido que considera inapropiado.
The streaming platform has been criticized for censoring content it considers inappropriate.
'Censurar' is an infinitive used after the preposition 'por' (for), explaining the reason for criticism.
Aunque en teoría hay libertad de expresión, en la práctica el gobierno puede censurar ciertos temas delicados.
Although in theory there is freedom of expression, in practice the government can censor certain sensitive topics.
Here, 'censurar' is an infinitive following the modal verb 'puede' (can), indicating possibility.
El director se negó a censurar el final de su obra, a pesar de la presión de los productores.
The director refused to censor the ending of his work, despite pressure from the producers.
'Censurar' is an infinitive used after 'se negó a' (refused to), showing a refusal to perform the action.
La historia ha demostrado que intentar censurar la información solo provoca un mayor interés en ella.
History has shown that trying to censor information only leads to greater interest in it.
'Censurar' is an infinitive acting as the subject of the sentence, explaining the action that leads to a consequence.
Colocações comuns
Frases Comuns
El gobierno decidió censurar la película por su contenido violento.
The government decided to censor the movie for its violent content.
No se puede censurar la libertad de expresión.
Freedom of expression cannot be censored.
Intentaron censurar su obra, pero no lo lograron.
They tried to censor his work, but they didn't succeed.
La junta escolar tiene el derecho de censurar los libros de texto.
The school board has the right to censor textbooks.
Muchos países censuran el acceso a ciertas páginas web.
Many countries censor access to certain websites.
Es peligroso cuando un estado puede censurar las noticias.
It is dangerous when a state can censor the news.
No debemos censurar las voces que no nos gustan.
We should not censor the voices we don't like.
La emisora tuvo que censurar algunas palabras del programa en vivo.
The broadcaster had to censor some words from the live program.
Es importante debatir en lugar de censurar.
It is important to debate instead of censoring.
A veces, los padres tienen que censurar el contenido que ven sus hijos.
Sometimes, parents have to censor the content their children watch.
Frequentemente confundido com
This is the noun form of 'censurar' and means 'censorship.' It refers to the act or system of censoring.
This refers to the person who performs censorship, 'the censor.'
This means 'uncensored' and is a useful phrase to know when talking about content.
Padrões gramaticais
Fácil de confundir
'Criticar' means 'to criticize' or 'to find fault with.' While related, it doesn't carry the official suppression aspect of 'censurar.'
Censurar implies official removal or suppression, while criticar is about expressing disapproval or judgment.
El crítico de cine criticó la película por su falta de originalidad. (The film critic criticized the movie for its lack of originality.)
'Prohibir' means 'to prohibit' or 'to forbid.' While censorship often leads to prohibition, the words are not interchangeable.
Censurar is the act of examining and suppressing content. Prohibir is the act of making something not allowed.
El gobierno prohibió la venta de alcohol en espacios públicos. (The government prohibited the sale of alcohol in public spaces.)
'Editar' means 'to edit,' which involves making changes to a text or film. While censorship might involve editing, the intent is different.
Editar is a broader term for making modifications, often for improvement. Censurar specifically refers to removing objectionable content, often with an official mandate.
El autor editó su novela varias veces antes de publicarla. (The author edited his novel several times before publishing it.)
'Restringir' means 'to restrict' or 'to limit.' This is similar to censorship in that it involves limiting access, but it's a broader concept.
Censurar is about suppressing specific content. Restringir can apply to many things, like access, movement, or information, without necessarily involving suppression of content.
Se restringió el acceso a ciertas áreas del parque. (Access to certain areas of the park was restricted.)
'Suprimir' means 'to suppress' or 'to abolish.' This is a very close synonym to a part of the definition of 'censurar,' but 'censurar' implies the official examination process.
Suprimir can be a general act of putting an end to something. Censurar specifically refers to the suppression of content after an examination, usually by an authority.
El gobierno intentó suprimir la noticia. (The government tried to suppress the news.)
Padrões de frases
Ellos censuraron [objeto].
Ellos censuraron el libro. (They censored the book.)
[Sujeto] censura [objeto].
El gobierno censura las noticias. (The government censors the news.)
No pueden censurar [objeto].
No pueden censurar la película entera. (They cannot censor the entire movie.)
Han censurado [objeto].
Han censurado algunas escenas de la obra. (They have censored some scenes from the play.)
[Sujeto] debería censurar [objeto] por [razón].
La junta debería censurar el contenido por ser inapropiado. (The board should censor the content for being inappropriate.)
Si [condición], censurarán [objeto].
Si el programa es ofensivo, lo censurarán. (If the show is offensive, they will censor it.)
[Sujeto] fue censurado por [razón].
El artículo fue censurado por sus opiniones controvertidas. (The article was censored for its controversial opinions.)
La libertad de expresión puede ser censurada en [lugar].
La libertad de expresión puede ser censurada en algunos países. (Freedom of speech can be censored in some countries.)
Memorize
Mnemônico
To remember 'censurar', think of 'censor' which sounds very similar and has the same meaning in English. It's like they're 'censoring' something.
Associação visual
Imagine a red stamp coming down on a book or movie screen, with the word 'CENSURADO' (CENSORED) on it. This visual links directly to the idea of suppressing unacceptable parts.
Word Web
Desafio
Try to use 'censurar' in a sentence related to media or information. For example, 'El gobierno decidió censurar la película por su contenido violento.' (The government decided to censor the movie due to its violent content.)
Origem da palavra
Latin 'censere'
Significado original: to assess, to estimate, to judge
Indo-European (Italic branch)Contexto cultural
<p>In many Spanish-speaking countries, the concept of 'censorship' (censura) has a strong historical and political connotation, often linked to authoritarian regimes where freedom of expression was restricted. Therefore, the word 'censurar' can evoke these historical struggles.</p>
Teste-se 90 perguntas
Los estudiantes ___ (estudiar) mucho para el examen.
The past tense 'estudiaron' (they studied) is correct for a completed action in the past.
Ella ___ (comer) una manzana cada día.
The present tense 'come' (she eats) is correct for a habitual action.
Nosotros ___ (vivir) en una casa grande.
The present tense 'vivimos' (we live) is correct for a current state.
Yo ___ (ser) de España.
The correct conjugation of 'ser' for 'yo' (I) is 'soy' (I am).
Tú ___ (tener) un perro pequeño.
The correct conjugation of 'tener' for 'tú' (you) is 'tienes' (you have).
Ellos ___ (hablar) español muy bien.
The present tense 'hablan' (they speak) is correct for a current ability.
Greeting
Introducing oneself
Asking origin
Read this aloud:
Mucho gusto
Focus: goo-stoh
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Adiós
Focus: ah-dee-ohs
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Por favor
Focus: poor fah-vor
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Los estudiantes tienen que rellenar los espacios en blanco del examen. (The students have to ___ the blanks on the exam.)
To 'fill in' the blanks, we use 'llenar' or 'rellenar'. 'Censurar' means to censor.
No se puede ___ películas para niños. (You cannot ___ movies for children.)
The context implies altering or suppressing parts of movies, which is 'censurar'.
El gobierno decidió ___ información sensible. (The government decided to ___ sensitive information.)
Governments often 'censor' sensitive information.
A veces, algunos libros son ___ en las escuelas. (Sometimes, some books are ___ in schools.)
If parts are deemed unacceptable, books can be 'censored' in schools.
Los padres pueden ___ ciertos programas de televisión para sus hijos. (Parents can ___ certain TV programs for their children.)
Parents might 'censor' or block inappropriate content for their children.
Es importante no ___ las opiniones de los demás. (It's important not to ___ the opinions of others.)
To 'censor' opinions means to suppress them, which is generally not good. The options 'escuchar' (listen), 'respetar' (respect), and 'aceptar' (accept) are positive actions.
Choose the correct sentence: The government censored the article.
'Censuró' is the correct past tense (preterite) form of 'censurar' for 'el gobierno'.
Which word means 'to censor'?
'Censurar' is the Spanish verb for 'to censor'.
The movie was censored because of its violence. (Choose the correct Spanish translation)
'Fue censurada' is the correct passive voice in the past tense for a feminine noun 'la película'.
The verb 'censurar' means to celebrate.
'Censurar' means to examine and suppress unacceptable parts, not to celebrate.
You can use 'censurar' when talking about a book.
'Censurar' is commonly used when referring to books, movies, or other media.
If something is 'censurado', it means it was approved without any changes.
If something is 'censurado', it means parts were deemed unacceptable and suppressed, not approved without changes.
The government decided to censor the movie for minors.
I don't like it when they try to censor what I read.
Do you think they should censor fake news?
Read this aloud:
Ellos quieren censurar algunas escenas.
Focus: cen-su-rar
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
No podemos censurar la libertad de expresión.
Focus: li-ber-tad de ex-pre-sión
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Es difícil censurar la información en internet.
Focus: in-ter-net
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'The government can censor movies.'
This sentence means 'They should not censor the free press.'
This sentence means 'They want to censor some books.'
El gobierno decidió ___ el artículo antes de su publicación. (The government decided to ___ the article before its publication.)
The context implies removing unacceptable parts, which aligns with 'censurar'.
A veces, las películas son ___ por contener escenas violentas. (Sometimes, movies are ___ for containing violent scenes.)
'Censuradas' (censored) is the correct verb to describe the action taken on movies due to objectionable content.
Los libros históricos no deberían ser ___ para cambiar la verdad. (Historical books should not be ___ to change the truth.)
The context of changing the truth in historical books points to 'censurados' (censored).
La obra de teatro fue ___ porque algunos la consideraron ofensiva. (The play was ___ because some considered it offensive.)
If a play is considered offensive and parts are suppressed, it is 'censurada' (censored).
No debemos ___ la libertad de expresión. (We should not ___ freedom of expression.)
The opposite of supporting freedom of expression is to 'censurar' (censor) it.
La televisión pública tiene reglas estrictas para evitar ___ contenidos inapropiados. (Public television has strict rules to avoid ___ inappropriate content.)
Public television would 'censurar' (censor) inappropriate content according to strict rules.
Choose the best synonym for 'censurar'.
'Censurar' implies a negative judgment and often the suppression of something, making 'criticar' the closest synonym.
Which word describes an action similar to what a government might do to a controversial film?
Governments often 'censurar' controversial films by removing or prohibiting parts of them.
If a newspaper article is 'censurado', what has happened to it?
When something is 'censurado', it means parts have been removed or suppressed due to being deemed unacceptable.
To 'censurar' a book means to make it available to more people.
To 'censurar' a book means to suppress or remove parts of it, which would limit its availability or content, not increase it.
If a government decides to 'censurar' a TV show, it means they want to show it to a wider audience.
To 'censurar' a TV show implies restricting its content or preventing its broadcast, not expanding its audience.
The act of 'censurar' is usually done to protect freedom of expression.
Censorship, or 'censurar', is generally the opposite of protecting freedom of expression; it involves restricting it.
Imagine you are a movie director and a new film you made is being reviewed by a censorship board. Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) explaining what you think they might want to 'censurar' (censor) and why. Use the word 'censurar' at least once.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Creo que el comité de censura podría querer censurar algunas escenas de violencia en mi película. También es posible que quieran cambiar el diálogo en ciertas partes, ya que el contenido es un poco controvertido. Espero que entiendan la intención artística de mi obra.
Write a sentence in Spanish using the word 'censurar' to describe how a government might restrict information. (Hint: 'información' means information, 'gobierno' means government).
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
El gobierno intentó censurar la información que llegaba al público sobre la protesta.
Describe a situation where someone might feel like they have to 'censurar' their own thoughts or opinions. Write 2-3 sentences in Spanish.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
A veces, en una reunión familiar, siento que tengo que censurar mis propias opiniones para evitar discusiones. Es difícil no decir lo que realmente pienso.
¿Cuál es la razón principal por la que los gobiernos censuran los libros y periódicos, según el texto?
Read this passage:
En algunos países, el gobierno tiene el poder de censurar libros y periódicos. Esto significa que pueden eliminar partes de las publicaciones o incluso prohibir que se publiquen completamente. Generalmente, esto se hace para controlar lo que la gente lee y piensa, o para proteger ciertas ideas políticas o morales.
¿Cuál es la razón principal por la que los gobiernos censuran los libros y periódicos, según el texto?
El pasaje indica que 'Generalmente, esto se hace para controlar lo que la gente lee y piensa'.
El pasaje indica que 'Generalmente, esto se hace para controlar lo que la gente lee y piensa'.
¿Por qué el director tuvo que censurar las escenas de su película?
Read this passage:
El director de cine tuvo que censurar varias escenas de su película para que pudiera ser proyectada en la televisión. Las escenas contenían demasiado lenguaje fuerte y violencia, lo cual no era apropiado para el horario familiar. Fue una decisión difícil, pero necesaria para que más personas pudieran ver la película.
¿Por qué el director tuvo que censurar las escenas de su película?
El pasaje dice 'El director de cine tuvo que censurar varias escenas de su película para que pudiera ser proyectada en la televisión'.
El pasaje dice 'El director de cine tuvo que censurar varias escenas de su película para que pudiera ser proyectada en la televisión'.
¿Qué efecto negativo de la censura menciona el texto en relación con el arte?
Read this passage:
La sociedad a menudo censura ciertas formas de arte que considera ofensivas o inapropiadas. Esto puede incluir pinturas, canciones o esculturas. Aunque algunas personas creen que la censura es necesaria para mantener la moral, otras argumentan que limita la libertad de expresión y la creatividad de los artistas.
¿Qué efecto negativo de la censura menciona el texto en relación con el arte?
El pasaje afirma que 'otras argumentan que limita la libertad de expresión y la creatividad de los artistas'.
El pasaje afirma que 'otras argumentan que limita la libertad de expresión y la creatividad de los artistas'.
This sentence structure shows who (el gobierno) did what (decidió censurar) to what (la película).
This sentence expresses an opinion about an action. 'No es correcto' starts the statement, followed by the verb 'censurar' and its object.
This sentence indicates that 'muchos padres' (many parents) 'piensan' (think) that 'se debe censurar' (violent content should be censored).
Choose the best translation for "censurar" in this context: "El gobierno decidió censurar la película por su contenido polémico."
In this sentence, 'censurar' means to officially examine and suppress unacceptable parts, which aligns with 'to censor'.
Which of the following is most likely to be 'censurado'?
Controversial documentaries are often subject to censorship due to their content, while the other options are less likely.
If a government censors a book, what is its intention?
The primary purpose of censorship is to suppress or remove content considered unacceptable.
When a book is 'censurado', it means it has been praised for its content.
On the contrary, 'censurado' means that parts of the book have been suppressed due to being deemed unacceptable, not praised.
A movie can be 'censurada' because it contains inappropriate scenes.
Yes, 'censurar' often applies to movies when certain scenes are considered inappropriate and are therefore removed or suppressed.
If a journalist's article is 'censurado', it means it was published without any changes.
If an article is 'censurado', it means that parts of it were suppressed or removed, so it would not have been published without any changes.
The government decided to...
I don't agree with the...
Do you think they should...
Read this aloud:
Intenta decir: 'La censura de la prensa es una amenaza a la democracia.'
Focus: cen-su-ra, pren-sa, a-me-na-za, de-mo-cra-cia
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Repite: 'Algunos padres quieren censurar contenido inapropiado para niños.'
Focus: al-gu-nos, pa-dres, que-rer, cen-su-rar, in-a-pro-pia-do
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Di en voz alta: 'La libertad de expresión no debería ser censurada.'
Focus: li-ber-tad, ex-pre-sión, no, de-be-ría, ser, cen-su-ra-da
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence structure (Subject-Verb-Object) is common in Spanish.
Here, 'pueden ser' (can be) precedes the past participle 'censurados'.
This is a passive voice construction: 'fue censurada' (was censored).
El gobierno decidió ___ ciertas escenas de la película antes de su estreno.
The context implies removing unacceptable parts, which aligns with 'censurar'.
Es común que en regímenes autoritarios se intente ___ la prensa para controlar la información.
Authoritarian regimes often restrict information, making 'censurar' the appropriate choice.
Los padres tienen derecho a ___ el contenido al que sus hijos tienen acceso.
Parents often restrict content for their children, which is a form of 'censurar'.
El comité editorial decidió ___ el artículo por su contenido controvertido.
A controversial article might be suppressed or edited, aligning with 'censurar'.
En muchas culturas, algunas obras de arte han sido objeto de ___ por considerarse ofensivas.
The noun form 'censura' fits the context of works of art being suppressed due to perceived offensiveness.
El historiador argumentó que intentar ___ el pasado es un error que se repite.
Suppressing or altering historical facts is a common occurrence, making 'censurar' the correct word for the context.
You are a film critic reviewing a controversial movie. Write a paragraph explaining whether the film should be censored and why. Use the verb 'censurar' at least once.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
La película ha generado un gran debate por su contenido explícito. Algunos argumentan que se debería censurar por su impacto en la audiencia más joven, mientras que otros defienden la libertad artística. En mi opinión, aunque es provocativa, censurar esta obra sería un error, ya que abriría la puerta a la restricción de otras formas de expresión.
Imagine you are a journalist reporting on a government's decision to ban certain books from public libraries. Write a short news report (2-3 sentences) detailing the situation and using the verb 'censurar' or 'censura'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
El gobierno ha anunciado hoy una controvertida medida para censurar varios libros de las bibliotecas públicas. Esta decisión ha provocado una oleada de críticas por parte de grupos defensores de la libertad de expresión, quienes la consideran un atentado contra la cultura y la información.
You are writing a personal reflection about the role of social media in modern society. Discuss briefly how content moderation on these platforms can sometimes feel like 'censura' to users. Use 'censurar' or 'censura'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
En la era digital, las redes sociales juegan un papel crucial en la comunicación. Sin embargo, la moderación de contenido a veces puede ser interpretada por los usuarios como un intento de censurar sus opiniones, generando un debate sobre los límites de la libertad de expresión en estas plataformas.
¿Cuál es uno de los argumentos en contra de censurar las obras de arte?
Read this passage:
El debate sobre si se deben censurar ciertas obras de arte es antiguo y complejo. Algunos argumentan que es necesario proteger a la sociedad de contenido perjudicial, mientras que otros sostienen que cualquier forma de censura es una afrenta a la libertad creativa y al derecho a la información.
¿Cuál es uno de los argumentos en contra de censurar las obras de arte?
El pasaje indica que 'cualquier forma de censura es una afrenta a la libertad creativa y al derecho a la información'.
El pasaje indica que 'cualquier forma de censura es una afrenta a la libertad creativa y al derecho a la información'.
¿Por qué los gobiernos a veces justifican la censura de noticias?
Read this passage:
En algunos países, los gobiernos tienen la autoridad para censurar las noticias y la información que llega a sus ciudadanos. Esto a menudo se justifica con la necesidad de mantener la estabilidad o proteger la seguridad nacional, pero es una práctica muy criticada por organizaciones internacionales.
¿Por qué los gobiernos a veces justifican la censura de noticias?
El pasaje dice que se justifica 'con la necesidad de mantener la estabilidad o proteger la seguridad nacional'.
El pasaje dice que se justifica 'con la necesidad de mantener la estabilidad o proteger la seguridad nacional'.
¿Cuál fue la razón dada por la editorial para censurar pasajes del libro?
Read this passage:
La controversia rodea la decisión de una editorial de censurar ciertos pasajes de un libro clásico antes de su reimpresión. Los editores argumentan que los pasajes eran ofensivos para las sensibilidades modernas, mientras que los críticos condenan la alteración de una obra original.
¿Cuál fue la razón dada por la editorial para censurar pasajes del libro?
La editorial argumenta que 'los pasajes eran ofensivos para las sensibilidades modernas'.
La editorial argumenta que 'los pasajes eran ofensivos para las sensibilidades modernas'.
/ 90 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Censurar is about officially removing unacceptable content from media like books and movies.
- b1
- b2
- b3
Exemplo
El gobierno censuró las noticias críticas.
Conteúdo relacionado
Mais palavras de politics
a favor de
A2In support of; for the benefit of.
acusar
A2To charge (someone) with an offense or crime.
administrativo
A2Relating to the running of a business, organization, or government.
alcalde
A2The head of a city or town government.
alianza
A2A union or association formed for mutual benefit, especially between countries or organizations.
arrestar
A2To seize (someone) by legal authority and take them into custody.
burocracia
A2A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials.
candidato
A2A person who is running for an elected office or position.
candidatura
A2The state of being a candidate for an election or position.
castigar
A2To inflict a penalty or punishment for an offense.
