conciencia
nounCEFR B2
What does “conciencia” mean in English?
awareness, conscience
awareness, conscience (moral awareness of the impact of one's actions; also inner moral sense)
Example sentences
Tomar conciencia del impacto de nuestros hábitos de consumo es el primer paso hacia un cambio de comportamiento real.
Becoming aware of the impact of our consumption habits is the first step towards real behavioural change.
Actuó movido por su conciencia, aunque sabía que la decisión le costaría el apoyo de sus aliados políticos.
He acted according to his conscience, knowing the decision would cost him the support of his political allies.
How to use it
La conciencia covers two distinct English concepts that B2 learners must separate. Sense 1: 'conscience' — the moral inner voice that judges right from wrong: tener buena/mala conciencia, actuar en conciencia, remordimientos de conciencia. Sense 2: 'awareness' or 'consciousness' — knowing and being attentive to something: la conciencia social, la conciencia ambiental, tomar conciencia de (to become aware of). A third, more philosophical sense: 'consciousness' as in sentience: perder/recuperar la conciencia (to lose/regain consciousness). Context resolves the sense, but learners who only know 'conscience' will misread awareness-sense uses constantly.
Common mistake
Conciencia does duty for both 'conscience' and 'awareness/consciousness'. Learners who only know sense 1 (conscience) miss the very frequent tomar conciencia de (become aware of), la conciencia ambiental (environmental awareness) — these use sense 2. Read context carefully.