castigar
verbUpper-intermediate
What does “castigar” mean in English?
to punish, to penalise
to punish, to penalise (castigar a alguien por algo — impose a penalty; also figurative in markets/sport)
Example sentences
El árbitro castigó al equipo visitante con un penalti por una entrada antideportiva en el área.
The referee penalised the visiting team with a penalty for an unsporting tackle in the box.
Los inversores castigaron duramente las acciones de la empresa tras el escándalo contable.
Investors heavily penalised the company's shares following the accounting scandal.
How to use it
Castigar means 'to punish' or 'to penalise'. Structure: castigar a alguien (por algo) — punish someone (for something); castigar con + penalty (castigar con una multa). Also used figuratively: el mercado castigó la acción (the market penalised the share). Common in legal, sport, and formal discourse.
Common mistake
Castigar (punish — impose a penalty) vs. sancionar (sanction — formal/legal administrative penalty) vs. penalizar (penalise — financial or sporting penalty). All overlap at B2; sancionar is most legal/formal.
Topics
Related Upper-intermediate words
Reference
This entry’s teaching guidance follows Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes (Instituto Cervantes), B2 Funciones 6.30.