Usage Note
Sabiendas exists almost exclusively in the fixed prepositional phrase a sabiendas (or a sabiendas de que), meaning 'knowingly', 'with full knowledge', or 'deliberately'. It is never used as a standalone noun in modern Spanish. The phrase underscores that an action was taken in full awareness of the consequences—lo hizo a sabiendas ('he did it knowingly'). It is formal and frequently appears in legal texts.
Examples
"Lo hizo a sabiendas del riesgo."
Natural Translation
She did it knowing the risk.
Literal Translation
She did it with-knowledge of the risk.
Related Words
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