Law Enforcement
A comprehensive guide to law enforcement vocabulary in Spanish, organized into categories like police roles, crimes, investigations, and legal procedures.
police
This section covers the most important Spanish words for different types of police officers and their roles.
Police Roles
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| policía | policías | police officer | police officers | Always used with the article; can be masculine or feminine |
| agente de policía | agentes de policía | police agent/officer | police agents/officers | More formal term |
| detective | detectives | detective | detectives | Focuses on investigations |
| jefe de policía | jefes de policía | police chief | police chiefs | Head of a police department |
| guardia civil | guardias civiles | civil guard | civil guards | Specific to Spain |
| policía de tráfico | policías de tráfico | traffic police officer | traffic police officers | Manages traffic laws |
| inspector | inspectores | inspector | inspectors | Higher rank in police |
| oficial | oficiales | officer | officers | General term for rank |
| agente encubierto | agentes encubiertos | undercover agent | undercover agents | Works in disguise |
| vigilante | vigilantes | security guard/watchman | security guards/watchmen | Not always police |
These roles are essential for understanding Spanish-speaking law enforcement systems.
crimes
This section introduces the most common Spanish terms for various types of crimes.
Types of Crimes
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| robo | robos | robbery/theft | robberies/thefts | General term for stealing |
| asesinato | asesinatos | murder | murders | Intentional killing |
| secuestro | secuestros | kidnapping | kidnappings | Taking someone hostage |
| fraude | fraudes | fraud | frauds | Deception for gain |
| violación | violaciones | rape | rapes | Sexual assault |
| vandalismo | vandalismos | vandalism | vandalisms | Property damage |
| tráfico de drogas | — | drug trafficking | — | Usually singular |
| extorsión | extorsiones | extortion | extortions | Forcing money/things |
| allanamiento de morada | — | home invasion/break-in | — | Illegal entry |
| corrupción | — | corruption | — | Abuse of power |
Knowing these terms helps in discussing criminal cases or news in Spanish.
investigations
This section provides key Spanish vocabulary related to police investigations and procedures.
Investigation Terms
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| investigación | investigaciones | investigation | investigations | General term |
| interrogatorio | interrogatorios | interrogation | interrogations | Questioning suspects |
| arresto | arrestos | arrest | arrests | Taking someone into custody |
| evidencia | evidencias | evidence | evidences | Proof in a case |
| huella dactilar | huellas dactilares | fingerprint | fingerprints | Used for identification |
| sospechoso | sospechosos | suspect | suspects | Person under suspicion |
| denuncia | denuncias | complaint/report | complaints/reports | Victim’s report |
| testigo | testigos | witness | witnesses | Person who saw something |
| ficha policial | fichas policiales | police record | police records | Criminal background |
| búsqueda | búsquedas | search | searches | Looking for someone/something |
These words are vital for understanding how police work in Spanish-speaking contexts.
legal
This section covers Spanish terms related to legal procedures and the justice system.
Legal Procedure Terms
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| juicio | juicios | trial | trials | Court proceeding |
| abogado | abogados | lawyer | lawyers | Legal representative |
| juez | jueces | judge | judges | Oversees the courtroom |
| sentencia | sentencias | sentence/verdict | sentences/verdicts | Outcome of a trial |
| fianza | fianzas | bail | bails | Temporary release payment |
| audiencia | audiencias | hearing | hearings | Pre-trial meeting |
| orden de arresto | órdenes de arresto | arrest warrant | arrest warrants | Legal document |
| prisión | prisiones | prison/jail | prisons/jails | Place of confinement |
| fiscal | fiscales | prosecutor | prosecutors | Argues against the accused |
| apelación | apelaciones | appeal | appeals | Request to review a case |
Understanding these terms helps in navigating the Spanish legal system.
Translate the following sentence into Spanish: 'The lawyer prepared the defense for the trial.'
El abogado preparó la defensa para el juicio.
The correct translation is 'El abogado preparó la defensa para el juicio,' where 'abogado' means lawyer and 'juicio' means trial. Other options involve judge, prosecutor, and detective in unrelated contexts.
useful phrases
This section offers common Spanish phrases used in law enforcement settings for everyday communication.
Common Law Enforcement Phrases
| Spanish Phrase | English Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Qué ha pasado? | What happened? | General inquiry |
| ¿Dónde ocurrió el incidente? | Where did the incident occur? | Locating the event |
| Necesito ver su identificación. | I need to see your ID. | Standard procedure |
| Quédese aquí, por favor. | Stay here, please. | Giving instructions |
| ¿Puede describir al sospechoso? | Can you describe the suspect? | Gathering information |
| ¿Estaba usted solo/a? | Were you alone? | Interview question |
| Vamos a tomar su declaración. | We are going to take your statement. | Formal process |
| Tiene derecho a un abogado. | You have the right to a lawyer. | Legal warning |
| ¿Hay testigos? | Are there any witnesses? | Evidence gathering |
| Por favor, firme aquí. | Please sign here. | Completing paperwork |
These phrases are helpful for anyone interacting with law enforcement in a Spanish-speaking environment.
That’s the core law enforcement vocabulary you’ll need in Spanish, from police roles to legal terms and common phrases.
Which Spanish phrase means 'You have the right to a lawyer'?
Tiene derecho a un abogado.
'Tiene derecho a un abogado' means 'You have the right to a lawyer.' The other options mean 'Can you show your ID?', 'Stay here, please.', and 'We are going to take your statement.'
Flashcards (1 of 50)
- Notes: Always used with the article; can be masculine or feminine
- English Singular: police officer
- English Plural: police officers
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
