escarnio
mockery
noun ehs-KAHR-nyoh Rare
Origin: From Old Spanish, possibly Germanic origin via Frankish skernjan (to mock).
Also means
scorn
Usage Note
Escarnio is a formal or literary word for public ridicule or contemptuous mockery; everyday speech uses burla or mofa instead. The phrase hacer escarnio de alguien means 'to make a mockery of someone'. It carries a stronger moral condemnation than simple teasing and often appears in legal or religious contexts.
Examples
"Los comentarios fueron un escarnio público."
Natural Translation
The comments were a public mockery.
Related Words
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