Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Resentment in Spanish: Resentimiento
Resentimiento · noun (masculine) · rreh-sehn-tee-mee-EHN-toh
Resentimiento is the direct Spanish cognate for resentment, describing a lingering feeling of displeasure or bitterness toward someone who has wronged you. For deeper grudges, rencor conveys a more intense and enduring hostility.
rreh-sehn-tee-mee-EHN-toh
El resentimiento entre los dos hermanos duró años.
The resentment between the two brothers lasted years.
Resentment in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for resentment, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| resentimiento | resentment | rreh-sehn-tee-mee-EHN-toh | Default, widely understood |
| rencor | resentment | grudge, deep-seated bitterness | |
| amargura | resentment | bitterness (broader) |
How Native Speakers Use Resentimiento
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Family conflict
Todavía guarda resentimiento por lo que le dijiste.
She still holds resentment for what you said to her.
Guardar resentimiento means to harbor resentment.
Workplace tension
El ascenso generó rencor entre los compañeros de oficina.
The promotion created resentment among the coworkers.
Rencor for deeper workplace grudges.
Letting go
Aprendió a soltar el resentimiento después de la terapia.
He learned to release the resentment after therapy.
Soltar el resentimiento means to let go of bitterness.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Resentimiento
Using resentido as a noun
Incorrect: Tiene mucho resentido hacia su padre.
Correct: Tiene mucho resentimiento hacia su padre.
Resentido is the adjective (meaning resentful or bitter), not the noun — the noun form is resentimiento, and confusing them is a common error.
Confusing resentimiento with sentimiento
Incorrect: El sentimiento que siente es muy fuerte. (meaning resentment)
Correct: El resentimiento que siente es muy fuerte.
Sentimiento means feeling or emotion in general, while resentimiento specifically refers to bitterness from a perceived wrong — the prefix re- adds the sense of lingering pain.
Lock in Resentment Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Resentimiento used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using resentimiento in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El resentimiento entre los dos hermanos duró años. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Resentment in Spanish
- How do you say 'resentment' in Spanish?
- The direct translation is resentimiento, a cognate that works identically to English resentment. For a deeper, more entrenched form of resentment bordering on a grudge, rencor is more fitting.
- What is the difference between resentimiento and rencor?
- Resentimiento describes a reactive displeasure that may fade over time, while rencor implies a deep-rooted, persistent grudge that the person actively holds onto. You can let go of resentimiento more easily than rencor.
- How do you say 'I resent that' in Spanish?
- The verb is resentirse, used reflexively — me resiento por esa decisión means I resent that decision. Another option is the expression me molesta profundamente, which avoids the formal tone of resentirse.