The verb "sensibilizar" is used in Spanish to indicate the process of making someone aware or sensitive to a particular issue, idea, or situation. It is often used in contexts involving social, environmental, or health-related awareness campaigns. The frequency of use is moderate to high, especially in written contexts such as articles, reports, or speeches focused on advocacy. It is also common in oral speech when discussing initiatives aimed at raising awareness.
It is important to raise awareness in the community about climate change.
La campaña busca sensibilizar a los jóvenes sobre la salud mental.
The campaign aims to make young people aware of mental health.
El documental fue creado para sensibilizar a las personas sobre la conservación animal.
Though "sensibilizar" itself is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions, it plays a significant role in raising awareness through various phrases that include it. Below are some sentences illustrating this context.
The goal of the talk is to raise awareness among everyone about the importance of organ donation.
Necesitamos sensibilizar a la sociedad sobre el acoso escolar.
We need to raise awareness in society about bullying.
La organización trabaja para sensibilizar a los votantes sobre los derechos humanos.
The word "sensibilizar" comes from the root "sensible," which means "sensitive," combined with the suffix "-izar," which is used in Spanish to form verbs that indicate the action of becoming or causing to become. In essence, "sensibilizar" can be translated as "to cause to become sensitive."
In summary, "sensibilizar" is a verb used primarily in contexts relating to awareness and sensitivity towards important social issues. Its applications span various domains, including health, environmental concerns, and social justice movements, reflecting its significant role in communication and advocacy.