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"Punish" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "castigar", and "scold" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "regañar". Learn more about the difference between "punish" and "scold" below.
punish(
puh
-
nihsh
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. castigar
They're going to punish him for a crime he didn't commit.Lo van a castigar por un crimen que no cometió.
b. sancionar (a company)
The government can't punish companies for practices that are technically legal.El gobierno no puede sancionar a empresas por prácticas que son técnicamente legales.
a. castigar
When you lift something heavy, bend your knees so you don't punish your back.Al levantar algo pesado, flexiona las rodillas para no castigar la espalda.
scold(
skold
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. regañar
My mother used to scold me when I would talk back to her.Mi madre me regañaba cuando le respondía mal.
c. retar (Southern Cone)
I don't like being scolded like a child.No me gusta que me reten como si fuera un niño.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. el regañón (M), la regañona (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
My teacher is a scold. He's always in a bad mood.Mi profesor es un regañón. Siempre está de mal humor.
