Law words are specialized terms used in the legal system. These include words for different types of laws, legal actions, roles of people in the legal field, and common legal documents. Learning these words helps you understand and discuss legal topics in Spanish.
Legal Roles
These are the names of people you might encounter in a legal setting.
| Spanish Role | English Role | Example Sentence (Spanish) | Example Sentence (English) | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| abogado / abogada | lawyer | La abogada defendió a su cliente en el juicio. | The lawyer defended her client in the trial. | Use abogado for men and abogada for women. |
| juez / jueza | judge | El juez tomó una decisión justa. | The judge made a fair decision. | Juez is masculine, jueza* is feminine. |
| fiscal | prosecutor | El fiscal presentó las pruebas ante el tribunal. | The prosecutor presented the evidence before the court. | Fiscal* is the same for masculine and feminine. |
| acusado / acusada | defendant | La acusada negó todos los cargos. | The defendant denied all the charges. | Use acusado or acusada depending on gender. |
| testigo | witness | El testigo declaró lo que vio en el accidente. | The witness testified about what they saw in the accident. | Testigo* is the same for masculine and feminine. |
| notario / notaria | notary | El notario certificó la firma del documento. | The notary certified the signature on the document. | Use notario or notaria depending on gender. |
The prosecutor presented the evidence before the court. Fill in the blank: El ______ presentó las pruebas ante el tribunal.
fiscal
*Fiscal* is the prosecutor who presents the case against the defendant in court.
Types of Law
These are different areas or categories of law.
| Spanish Term | English Term | Example Sentence (Spanish) | Example Sentence (English) | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| derecho penal | criminal law | El derecho penal se ocupa de los delitos y sus sanciones. | Criminal law deals with crimes and their penalties. | Derecho* means “law.” |
| derecho civil | civil law | El abogado especializado en derecho civil resolvió el conflicto familiar. | The lawyer specialized in civil law resolved the family dispute. | Civil law covers private rights and contracts. |
| derecho laboral | labor law | El sindicato defendió a los trabajadores según el derecho laboral. | The union defended the workers according to labor law. | Labor law deals with employment issues. |
| derecho constitucional | constitutional law | El tribunal constitucional revisó la constitucionalidad de la ley. | The constitutional court reviewed the constitutionality of the law. | Constitucional* relates to the constitution. |
| derecho mercantil | commercial law | La empresa contrató un abogado de derecho mercantil. | The company hired a commercial law lawyer. | Covers business and trade laws. |
| derecho internacional | international law | El derecho internacional regula las relaciones entre países. | International law regulates relations between countries. | Often used in diplomacy and global agreements. |
Legal Actions
These are common actions or procedures in the legal process.
| Spanish Term | English Term | Example Sentence (Spanish) | Example Sentence (English) | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| demandar | to sue | Decidió demandar a la compañía por incumplimiento de contrato. | She decided to sue the company for breach of contract. | demandar* is a regular -ar verb. |
| apelación | appeal | Presentaron una apelación ante un tribunal superior. | They filed an appeal before a higher court. | Used as a noun. |
| juzgar | to judge / try | El juez juzgó el caso durante dos semanas. | The judge tried the case for two weeks. | Regular -ar verb. |
| absolver | to acquit | El jurado absolvió al acusado por falta de pruebas. | The jury acquitted the defendant due to lack of evidence. | Irregular verb: yo absuelvo, él absuelve. |
| condenar | to sentence | El tribunal condenó al acusado a cinco años de prisión. | The court sentenced the defendant to five years in prison. | Regular -ar verb. |
| testificar | to testify | El testigo testificó en contra del acusado. | The witness testified against the defendant. | Regular -ar verb. |
Important Legal Documents
These are names of key documents you might see or need in legal situations.
| Spanish Document | English Document | Example Sentence (Spanish) | Example Sentence (English) | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| contrato | contract | Firmaron un contrato de arrendamiento por un año. | They signed a one-year lease contract. | Contrato* is a common noun in legal and business contexts. |
| demanda | lawsuit | La demanda se presentó en los tribunales la semana pasada. | The lawsuit was filed in court last week. | Demanda* can also mean “demand” in other contexts. |
| testamento | will | Redactó su testamento antes de viajar al extranjero. | He drafted his will before traveling abroad. | A testamento outlines the distribution of assets after death. |
| sentencia | judgment / ruling | La sentencia del juez fue favorable al demandante. | The judge’s ruling was favorable to the plaintiff. | Refers to the final decision in a case. |
| poder notarial | power of attorney | Otorgó un poder notarial para que su abogado lo representara. | He granted a power of attorney for his lawyer to represent him. | Allows someone to act on another’s behalf. |
| acuerdo | agreement | Llegaron a un acuerdo fuera de los tribunales. | They reached an agreement outside of court. | A general term for any mutual understanding. |
He drafted his will before traveling abroad. Fill in the blank: Redactó su ______ antes de viajar al extranjero.
testamento
*Testamento* is a legal document that specifies asset distribution after death.
Common Legal Terms
These are useful words that appear frequently in legal texts and conversations.
| Spanish Term | English Term | Example Sentence (Spanish) | Example Sentence (English) | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ley | law | La nueva ley entrará en vigor el próximo mes. | The new law will take effect next month. | Ley* is always feminine: la ley. |
| justicia | justice | Buscan justicia por los daños causados. | They seek justice for the damages caused. | A broad term for fairness and legal rights. |
| prueba | evidence | La prueba principal fue un video de seguridad. | The main evidence was a security video. | Plural: pruebas. |
| culpa | fault / guilt | Determinaron la culpa del conductor en el accidente. | They determined the driver’s fault in the accident. | Can mean moral or legal blame. |
| víctima | victim | La víctima presentó una denuncia contra el agresor. | The victim filed a complaint against the assailant. | Use víctima for both men and women. |
| sanción | penalty / sanction | La empresa recibió una sanción por incumplir las normas. | The company received a penalty for violating the rules. | Refers to any legal punishment or fine. |
The company received a penalty for violating the rules. Fill in the blank: La empresa recibió una ______ por incumplir las normas.
sanción
*Sanción* means penalty or sanction, a form of legal punishment.
Conclusion
These categories cover the most common law words you’ll need to understand and use Spanish legal vocabulary. Practice these terms in context to build your confidence in navigating legal topics.
Flashcards (1 of 30)
- Tips: Use abogado for men and abogada for women.
- English Role: lawyer
- Example Sentence (English): The lawyer defended her client in the trial.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
