escarmentar

to learn one's lesson

to teach a lesson to

escarmentar(ehs-kahr-mehn-tahr)

intransitive verb

1. (to learn from experience)

a. to learn one's lesson

Por fin escarmenté y no le volví a prestar plata a mi primo. ¡Nunca me la devolvía!

I finally learned my lesson and stopped lending my cousin money. He'd never pay it back!

b. to learn

A pesar de que lo han excluído varias veces, Julián nunca escarmienta y sigue llegando tarde a clase.

Even though he's been suspended several times, Julian never learns and keeps being late for class.

c. to teach someone

Espero que esa noche en el calabozo te haya hecho escarmentar y nunca más manejes borracho.

I hope that night in the police cell has taught you, and you never drink and drive again.

transitive verb

2. (to punish)

a. to teach a lesson to

Mike le quitó el celular a su hija para escarmentarla por no hacer tareas.

Mike took his daughter's cell phone away to teach her a lesson for not doing her homework.