víctima

Víctima is a noun used in Spanish and Portuguese to refer to a person who suffers harm caused by crime, accident, disaster, or wrongdoing. The word comes from Latin victima, originally meaning a sacrificed person or animal, and over time it broadened to denote someone who incurs harm or loss. In both languages, the term is widely used across legal, social, and everyday contexts.

In everyday language, a víctima can be a direct sufferer (primary victim) or someone affected by the event in a secondary way, such as relatives, witnesses, or dependents. The concept also extends to groups or communities affected by wrongdoing or disasters. While the term is primarily applied to people, certain contexts may describe non-human losses metaphorically, though more specific terms are common.

In law and criminology, the concept is central. The field of victimology studies patterns of victimization, risk factors, and the social and economic impact on victims. Legal systems often recognize victims’ rights, including access to information, protection from harm, participation in proceedings, restitution, and support services. Policies and programs aim to reduce re-victimization and to promote early intervention, counseling, and financial or legal assistance.

Linguistic notes: in Spanish, la víctima is the standard form, and the gender of the person is indicated by context and pronouns rather than by a different form of the word. In Portuguese, a vítima is the standard form, with the feminine article a indicating gender; in both languages the term is used regardless of the victim’s gender, though agreement with other words follows the corresponding article and pronouns.