Rights and duties are fundamental concepts in legal and social contexts. This vocabulary set includes key Spanish terms used to discuss rights (los derechos), duties (los deberes), and related legal ideas, helping you express and understand these important topics.
Basic Rights
These are the fundamental rights that individuals commonly have in legal and social systems.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| el derecho | los derechos | right | rights |
| la libertad | las libertades | freedom | freedoms |
| la igualdad | — | equality | — |
| el acceso | los accesos | access | accesses |
| la seguridad | — | security | — |
| la educación | — | education | — |
| la salud | — | health | — |
| la propiedad | — | property | — |
| la justicia | — | justice | — |
| el voto | los votos | vote | votes |
Common Duties
These are typical responsibilities or obligations that people may have in various contexts.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| el deber | los deberes | duty | duties |
| la obligación | las obligaciones | obligation | obligations |
| el respeto | — | respect | — |
| el cumplimiento | — | compliance | — |
| la responsabilidad | — | responsibility | — |
| la contribución | las contribuciones | contribution | contributions |
| el pago | los pagos | payment | payments |
| la asistencia | — | attendance | — |
| la cooperación | — | cooperation | — |
| la honestidad | — | honesty | — |
Legal System Terms
These terms are useful for discussing how rights and duties are enforced or protected within the legal system.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| la ley | las leyes | law | laws |
| el juez | los jueces | judge | judges |
| el tribunal | los tribunales | court | courts |
| la sentencia | las sentencias | sentence | sentences |
| el abogado | los abogados | lawyer | lawyers |
| el contrato | los contratos | contract | contracts |
| la norma | las normas | rule | rules |
| la sanción | las sanciones | sanction | sanctions |
| el recurso | los recursos | appeal | appeals |
| la justicia | — | justice | — |
The court issued a sentence.
El tribunal emitió una sentencia.
Tribunal means 'court,' and sentencia means 'sentence'—the decision issued by a court.
Rights and Duties in Society
These words help you talk about how rights and duties operate within communities and societies.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| el ciudadano | los ciudadanos | citizen | citizens |
| la comunidad | las comunidades | community | communities |
| el permiso | los permisos | permit | permits |
| la denuncia | las denuncias | complaint | complaints |
| la protesta | las protestas | protest | protests |
| el derecho humano | los derechos humanos | human right | human rights |
| el deber cívico | los deberes cívicos | civic duty | civic duties |
| la participación | — | participation | — |
| el beneficio | los beneficios | benefit | benefits |
| la protección | — | protection | — |
This vocabulary will enable you to navigate conversations about rights and duties in both formal and everyday contexts.
Human rights must be protected.
Los derechos humanos deben ser protegidos.
Derechos humanos means 'human rights,' which are fundamental rights that must be protected universally.
Flashcards (1 of 40)
- English Singular: right
- English Plural: rights
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
