infringisteis

Infringisteis is the second-person plural preterite form of the Spanish verb infringir, meaning to infringe or violate. The verb comes from the Latin infringere (in- + frangere, to break). In everyday use it denotes breaching rules, laws, rights, or terms, and refers to a completed action in the past. Its use is standard in Spanish, but the preferred forms for addressing a group vary by region.

Grammatical notes: In the preterite tense, infringir is conjugated as infringí, infringiste, infringió, infringimos, infringisteis, infringieron. The form infringisteis corresponds to “you all infringed.” In many Spanish-speaking regions outside Spain, the second-person plural is often expressed with ustedes (ustedes infringieron) rather than vosotros; in that usage, the corresponding preterite is infringe-ron (infringieron).

Usage and nuance: Infringir is commonly used for legal, contractual, regulatory, or formal breaches, with a nuance somewhat closer to “to violate” or “to breach.” While violar is a close synonym, violar can carry a stronger or more adversarial tone in some contexts, whereas infringir is frequently preferred in formal or technical language, such as corporate compliance or regulatory discussions.

Examples:

- Vosotros infringisteis las normas del reglamento durante la competición, lo que llevó a una sanción.

- Si infringisteis las cláusulas del contrato, podrían aplicarse penalidades.

- En América Latina, se diría “ustedes infringieron” para expresar lo mismo.

Related forms include infringir (infinitive) and infringido (past participle). The term is neutral in tone and appropriate for legal, academic, and formal reporting contexts.