In Spanish, “condone” often maps to condonar (forgive a debt) or tolerar/pasar por alto (overlook misconduct), depending on context.
You’ll see “condone” in news, school essays, and workplace writing. In English it can mean “to overlook or allow something wrong,” and it can also show up in money talk as “to forgive a debt.” Spanish splits those ideas across different verbs. Pick the wrong one and your sentence can shift from “I won’t excuse that behavior” to “I’m cancelling your loan.”
This article helps you choose the best Spanish option for what you mean, then use it in natural sentences. You’ll get quick context rules, ready-to-use phrases, and the traps learners hit most.
Condone Meaning In Spanish With Real-World Context
There isn’t one single Spanish verb that fits every “condone” sentence. Spanish tends to name the action more directly: forgive a debt, excuse a mistake, overlook bad conduct, allow something to happen, or endorse an idea. Start by asking what’s being “condoned.” That one step saves you from odd, overly formal, or flat-out wrong wording.
When “Condone” Means Forgive A Debt
If the topic is money, taxes, fees, fines, or loans, the best match is often condonar. It’s common in formal writing and finance.
- El banco condonó la deuda. (The bank forgave the debt.)
- El gobierno condonó multas atrasadas. (The government forgave overdue fines.)
- ¿Se puede condonar parte del préstamo? (Can part of the loan be forgiven?)
Practical tip: condonar is precise for debts. If you use it for behavior, it can sound like legalese, or like you’re “forgiving” an act the way you’d forgive a bill.
When “Condone” Means Overlook Wrongdoing
For misconduct, rule-breaking, harassment, or harm, Spanish usually chooses verbs that signal “not approving, and not letting it slide.” Strong everyday choices include tolerar, pasar por alto, and permitir. If you want to mark moral approval, justificar is often the cleanest fit.
- No toleramos el acoso. (We don’t tolerate harassment.)
- No podemos pasar por alto esa conducta. (We can’t overlook that behavior.)
- No se debe permitir la trampa. (Cheating shouldn’t be allowed.)
- No justifico lo que hizo. (I don’t justify what he did.)
When “Condone” Implies Approval Or Endorsement
Some English sentences imply more than tolerating. They suggest approval. In Spanish you can use aprobar (to approve) or respaldar (to back), depending on whether the “condoning” is official or personal.
- La empresa no aprueba esas prácticas. (The company does not approve those practices.)
- No respaldo esa decisión. (I don’t back that decision.)
Quick Match Guide For The Best Spanish Verb
If you want one clean rule: choose condonar for debts, and choose a different verb for behavior. The table below gives a fast match based on the meaning you need, plus a natural Spanish pattern you can reuse in writing.
| What “Condone” Means In English | Best Spanish Choice | Natural Pattern You Can Copy |
|---|---|---|
| Forgive a debt, fee, fine | condonar | Condonar + la deuda / la multa / los intereses |
| Not tolerate wrongdoing | tolerar | No tolerar + el acoso / la violencia / la trampa |
| Overlook a fault or misconduct | pasar por alto | No poder pasar por alto + esa conducta / ese error |
| Allow something to happen | permitir | No permitir + que + verbo (subj.) |
| Excuse or “make it okay” morally | justificar | No justificar + lo que + verbo (pasado) |
| Forgive a person (not a debt) | perdonar | Perdonar + a + persona / perdonar + algo |
| Approve or endorse a practice | aprobar, respaldar | No aprobar / no respaldar + esas prácticas |
| Turn a blind eye (“let it slide”) | hacer la vista gorda | No hacer la vista gorda ante + sustantivo |
That last row is handy in conversation. It’s vivid and common. Use it when the tone can be a bit more casual, or when you want to hint that someone saw the problem and ignored it on purpose.
Small Meaning Shifts That Change Your Message
Spanish options can look similar in English translations, yet they carry different vibes. If you’re writing for school or work, those vibes matter. The word you pick can sound like a policy statement, a personal opinion, or a moral judgment.
Tolerar Vs. Permitir
Tolerar is about putting up with something. It often shows up with standards: “We don’t tolerate X.” Permitir is about letting something happen, often with rules or authority in the background.
- No toleramos insultos. (We don’t tolerate insults.)
- No permitimos insultos en clase. (We don’t allow insults in class.)
Both can cover the English idea of “not condoning.” Choose based on whether you’re stating a stance (tolerar) or a rule (permitir).
Pasar Por Alto Vs. Hacer La Vista Gorda
Both can mean “to overlook.” Pasar por alto can be neutral: you might overlook an error in a document. Hacer la vista gorda suggests you noticed the problem and decided to ignore it.
- El profesor pasó por alto un error menor. (The teacher overlooked a small mistake.)
- No hagas la vista gorda ante el fraude. (Don’t turn a blind eye to fraud.)
Justificar Vs. Perdonar
Justificar is about saying the action was acceptable. Perdonar is about forgiveness toward a person. In English, “I don’t condone it, but I forgive you” is a common split. Spanish mirrors that split cleanly.
- No justifico lo que hiciste, pero te perdono. (I don’t justify what you did, but I forgive you.)
Ways To Say “I Don’t Condone That” In Spanish
English leans on “condone” as a single strong verb. Spanish often prefers shorter, clearer statements. Here are solid options, grouped by what you want to communicate.
When You Mean “I Don’t Approve”
- No lo apruebo. (I don’t approve of it.)
- No respaldo eso. (I don’t back that.)
- No estoy de acuerdo con eso. (I don’t agree with that.)
When You Mean “I Won’t Excuse It”
- No lo justifico. (I don’t justify it.)
- No hay excusa para eso. (There’s no excuse for that.)
- No se puede justificar. (It can’t be justified.)
When You Mean “We Don’t Allow That Here”
- No se permite eso aquí. (That isn’t allowed here.)
- No vamos a permitir ese comportamiento. (We’re not going to allow that behavior.)
- Eso va contra las reglas. (That goes against the rules.)
Sentence Templates That Sound Natural
If you’re writing an essay, an email, or a classroom response, these templates help you express the idea behind “condone” without awkward literal translations.
Neutral, Academic Tone
- Este comportamiento no debe tolerarse. (This behavior should not be tolerated.)
- La institución no aprueba estas prácticas. (The institution does not approve these practices.)
- No se puede pasar por alto la violencia. (Violence can’t be overlooked.)
- No es aceptable justificar ese tipo de actos. (It isn’t acceptable to justify those kinds of acts.)
Direct, Workplace Tone
- No permitimos ese tipo de comentarios. (We don’t allow that kind of comments.)
- No vamos a hacer la vista gorda. (We’re not going to turn a blind eye.)
- Esto no está permitido según la política. (This isn’t allowed under the policy.)
Personal, Conversational Tone
- No me parece bien lo que hizo. (What he did doesn’t seem okay to me.)
- No puedo dejar pasar eso. (I can’t let that slide.)
- Eso no va conmigo. (That’s not my thing / I’m not okay with that.)
Notice the pattern: Spanish often avoids a single “condone” verb by using short, direct statements. That’s normal Spanish style, and it reads smoother in real life.
Common Mistakes And How To Fix Them
These are the slip-ups that trip up learners most, especially when they translate word-for-word from English.
Using Condonar For Behavior
Wrong idea:Condonar la violencia. This sounds like you’re forgiving “violence” the way you’d forgive a fee. It’s not the usual match.
Better:No toleramos la violencia. or No se puede pasar por alto la violencia.
Overusing Permitir When You Mean “I Don’t Approve”
Permitir can sound like you’re talking about formal rules. If you want to express your stance, aprobar or respaldar often fits better.
- No apruebo esas acciones. (I don’t approve those actions.)
- No respaldo ese comportamiento. (I don’t back that behavior.)
Mixing Up “Forgive A Debt” And “Forgive A Person”
Use condonar for debts. Use perdonar for people. If you say Te condono, it can sound like a joke, or like a legal statement. Te perdono is the everyday choice.
Forgetting The Tone Of Hacer La Vista Gorda
Hacer la vista gorda carries a “you saw it and ignored it” tone. It’s great when you mean that. If you just mean “overlooked a typo,” use pasar por alto instead.
Which Option Fits Your Context?
If you want a fast decision, use this table. Start with what you’re talking about, then pick the verb and a ready-made structure that sounds natural.
| Your Situation | Spanish You’ll Most Likely Use | One Clean Sample Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Debt relief, fees, penalties | condonar | La entidad condonó parte de la deuda. |
| School rules, classroom behavior | no permitir, no tolerar | No se permite copiar en los exámenes. |
| Ethics stance in writing | no aprobar, no justificar | No justifico ese tipo de acciones. |
| Minor mistake you let go | pasar por alto, dejar pasar | Puedo dejar pasar ese error una vez. |
| Cheating, fraud, corruption | no hacer la vista gorda | No vamos a hacer la vista gorda ante el fraude. |
| Personal forgiveness, relationships | perdonar | Te perdono, pero no apruebo lo que pasó. |
Regional Notes And Register
Good news: these choices work across Spanish-speaking countries. The main difference is how formal they feel.
- Condonar: formal, common in banking, government, legal writing.
- Tolerar / permitir: neutral, common in policies, school rules, workplace rules.
- Pasar por alto: neutral, works in both writing and speech.
- Hacer la vista gorda: more idiomatic, best in speech or informal writing.
If you’re unsure, pasar por alto (overlook) and no aprobar (not approve) are safe, widely understood options for behavior contexts.
Practice Section: Build Your Own Spanish Sentences
Want this to stick? Turn an English “condone” sentence into Spanish by following these steps. Keep it simple and you’ll sound natural.
Step 1: Name The Object Clearly
Ask: is it a debt, a fee, a rule, an act, or a person? Spanish likes that clarity. It also helps you pick the right verb in seconds.
Step 2: Choose The Stance Verb
Pick the angle you mean:
- Rule angle:permitir
- Standards angle:tolerar
- Ignore angle:pasar por alto / hacer la vista gorda
- Moral angle:justificar
- Money angle:condonar
Step 3: Use A Simple Negative Pattern
English often says “We do not condone X.” Spanish often goes with a crisp negative structure:
- No + verbo + sustantivo.
- No se + verbo (3rd person) + sustantivo.
- No + verbo + que + verbo (subj.).
Mini Drill (With Answers)
Try these quickly, then check the Spanish version:
- We don’t condone cheating. → No toleramos la trampa. / No se permite hacer trampa.
- The agency condoned the debt. → La agencia condonó la deuda.
- I can’t condone that behavior. → No puedo aprobar esa conducta. / No puedo dejar pasar esa conducta.
One Last Check Before You Write It In Spanish
If you only remember one thing, make it this: condonar is your debt word. For conduct, choose the verb that matches your stance: tolerate, allow, overlook, approve, or justify. That single choice keeps your Spanish clear and stops mixed messages before they happen.