Law and Justice - Spanish Vocabulary
Learn Spanish vocabulary related to law and justice. Explore terms used in the legal system, courts, crimes, and more.
juicio penal
criminal trial
The Spanish term 'juicio penal' refers to a specific legal proceeding in which the state stands against an individual or a group accused of committing a criminal offence. This legal process, known in English as a 'criminal trial', is aimed at determining whether the accused are guilty of the alleged crimes. A criminal trial usually involves the presentation of evidence by both the prosecution and defense, followed by a verdict given by a judge or jury.
Example sentences with juicio penal →jurado
jury
The word 'jurado' translates to 'jury' in English. It is often used in legal contexts and refers to a group of people who are sworn in to render a verdict in a trial. This group is usually formed by ordinary citizens who are brought together to decide if someone is guilty or innocent based on the evidence presented during the trial.
Example sentences with jurado →justicia
justice
The Spanish word for 'justice' is 'justicia'. It is used in the same contexts as in English. It refers to the concept of fairness, moral rightness, lawfulness and punishment or reward administration in accordance to the law. It is widely used in legal and social discussions.
Example sentences with justicia →juzgado de instrucción
trial court
The Spanish term 'juzgado de instrucción' translates to 'trial court' in English. This is a court of law which is responsible for conducting preliminary investigations into serious crimes and misdemeanours. It determines whether the prosecutor's charges will proceed to trial. The investigatory role of the 'juzgado de instrucción' or 'trial court' is to collect evidence, examine witnesses, arrest the accused if necessary and ultimately to decide whether the case should be sent for trial.
Example sentences with juzgado de instrucción →juzgado de paz
magistrate's court
The Spanish phrase 'juzgado de paz' translates to 'magistrate's court' in English. This term refers to a lower court where preliminary sessions of both civil and criminal cases are held. A magistrate, who is a civil officer or lay judge, presides over this court. The role of the magistrate includes ensuring the smooth functioning of court procedures, such as issuing warrants and adjudicating minor infractions.
Example sentences with juzgado de paz →juzgado de primera instancia
Court of first instance
The term 'juzgado de primera instancia' refers to a specific level of court in some Spanish-speaking regions. It is typically where a legal case will start and where decisions will be made regarding civil and criminal matters. The judge at this level usually takes statements, looks over evidence, and decides whether a case needs to go to a higher court or not. In English, this term translates to 'court of first instance'.
Example sentences with juzgado de primera instancia →legalidad
legality
The Spanish word 'legalidad' translates to 'legality' in English. This term is mostly used in legal and law contexts to define the quality or state of being in accordance with the law. It is used to indicate the condition of an action, process or thing that is performed or exists according to the stipulations of the law. For example, discussing the 'legalidad' of a business transaction refers to ensuring it complies with all the judicial norms and regulations.
Example sentences with legalidad →legislación
legislation
The word 'legislación' in Spanish translates to 'legislation' in English. It refers to the process of making or enacting laws. It is traditionally seen as a function of the government. This term is used in discussions of law-making public policy, legal drafting, and political science. In simple terms, 'legislación' is the act of making and preparing laws or statutory rules.
Example sentences with legislación →legislar
legislate
The Spanish word 'legislar' translates to 'legislate' in English. 'Legislate' is a verb that refers to the act of making or enacting laws. It's typically used in the context of a legislative body such as a Parliament or Congress. However, it can also be broadly applied to indicate setting rules or guidelines in other fields or contexts. This is a term often used in politics, law, and governance. 'Legislar', similarly, is a common term in Spanish regarding political legislation.
Example sentences with legislar →llamar a la policía
call the police
The Spanish phrase 'llamar a la policía' translates to 'call the police' in English. It is made up of the verb 'llamar' meaning 'call', the preposition 'a' which can translate to 'to', and the noun 'la policía' meaning 'the police'. Therefore, when you say 'llamar a la policía', you are instructing someone to call the police.
llamar a los bomberos
Call the firefighters.
The Spanish phrase 'llamar a los bomberos' translates to 'call the firefighters' in English. This phrase is used in situations where there is an emergency that requires the help of firefighters, such as a fire, car accident, or any situation that may involve life-threatening danger. The verb 'llamar' means to call, 'a los' mean to the, and 'bomberos' means firefighters. Therefore, when combined, it signals the action of reaching out to the firefighters for immediate assistance.
llevar a juicio
bring to trial
The Spanish phrase 'llevar a juicio' translates to 'bring to trial' in English. This phrase is typically used in the context of legal proceedings, when one party decides to sue another party, thus 'bringing them to trial'. It is an expression indicating that a person or organization is being taken to court in order for the judge to make a decision on a disputed matter. While the literal translation is 'to carry to trial', it is more naturally expressed in English as 'bring to trial'.
Example sentences with llevar a juicio →magistrado
Magistrate
The Spanish word 'magistrado' translates to 'magistrate' in English. A magistrate is a civil officer or lay judge who administers the law, especially one who conducts a court dealing with minor offenses and holds preliminary hearings for big crimes. They have the power to issue warrants and have jurisdiction over certain types of cases. In a similar way, 'magistrado' in Spanish refers to an official who holds similar roles in their respective legal systems.
Example sentences with magistrado →medida de seguridad
security measure
The term 'medida de seguridad' in Spanish translates to 'security measure' in English. It refers to the strategies, tools, or precautions used to protect an individual, group, place, or entity from harm, damage, or any form of unwanted or unauthorized access. In information technology, it can refer to protocols that protect data; in a physical environment, it might involve locks, security cameras, fences, etc. Understanding this term is crucial for navigating conversations about safety, protection and precautionary actions.
muerte
death
The Spanish word for 'death' is 'muerte'. It's a feminine noun used to talk about the end of life. It's often used just like the word 'death' in English, such as in expressions of condolence or in discussions about mortality.
Example sentences with muerte →obedecer una ley
obey a law
The Spanish phrase 'obedecer una ley' translates to 'obey a law' in English. It's generally used in a legal or authoritative context to signify the act of following a specific law or regulation. The phrase can be used in various situations such as in court, in school, or in general conversation while referring to any situation where someone is required or expected to adhere to certain legal or even unspoken societal rules.
Example sentences with obedecer una ley →obtener un indulto
get a pardon
The Spanish phrase 'obtener un indulto' translates to 'get a pardon' in English. This phrase is typically used within legal and judicial contexts. Essentially, when someone is saying 'obtener un indulto', they are speaking about the act of receiving formal forgiveness for a crime, generally from a figure of authority, which results in the cancellation or postponement of the penalty. 'Obtener' means 'to get' or 'to obtain', 'un' is the indefinite article 'a', and 'indulto' is the noun for 'pardon'.
Example sentences with obtener un indulto →pena
Pity
The Spanish word 'pena' translates to 'pity' in English. 'Pena' commonly denotes feelings of sorrow or regret. It is also used to express compassion for someone else's misfortune or hardship. The word can be incorporated into various sentences depending on the context.
Example sentences with pena →perder un juicio
losing a trial
The Spanish phrase 'perder un juicio' translates to 'losing a trial' in English. It is often used in the context of legal proceedings where a party fails to win their case. This phrase can be used metaphorically in everyday situations as well, to signify losing an argument or failing in an effort.
Example sentences with perder un juicio →perro adiestrado
trained dog
The term 'perro adiestrado' is Spanish for 'trained dog'. It refers to a dog that has been trained to perform certain tasks or behave in a specific way. Training can range from simple commands such as 'sit' or 'stay', to more complex behaviours like fetching items, performing tricks, or even aiding people with disabilities. This term could be used in a variety of contexts, but it is most commonly utilized to refer to dogs that have been purposefully taught specific behaviors through reward-based methods, often using treats, praise, or toys as incentives.
pista
track
The Spanish word 'pista' translates to 'track' in English. This term can be used in various contexts and can convey multiple meanings such as a sports track for running or cycling, a path or course laid out for racing, or even a track for music or audio recording. Furthermore, 'pista' can also imply a hint or clue, especially in decoding puzzles or solving mysteries.
pista concluyente
Concluding clue
The Spanish term 'pista concluyente' translates to 'concluding clue' in English. It refers to a final piece of evidence or information that brings a conclusion or resolution to an inquiry or investigation. It denotes a decisive clue or hint that helps solve a puzzle, mystery, or problem.
pista falsa
false lead (red herring)
The Spanish phrase 'pista falsa' directly translates to 'false track' or 'false clue'. However, it is commonly used in English to mean 'false lead' or a 'red herring'. Generally used in crime/mystery narratives, it refers to a misleading or distracting information or clue, designed to divert attention away from the real issue or solution.
policía de tráfico
Traffic police
The Spanish phrase 'policía de tráfico' translates to 'traffic police' in English. The traffic police are law enforcement officers who are responsible for enforcing traffic laws to ensure safety and manage the flow of traffic on the roads. They might be seen at intersections, patrolling highways, or responding to accidents. In some regions, they also conduct inspections or investigations related to vehicular incidents.
policía municipal
Municipal police
Policía municipal, a phrase in Spanish, directly translates to 'municipal police' in English. In many Spanish-speaking countries, 'policía municipal' is a term used to reference local or city-level police forces. These are law enforcement agencies run by municipalities, accountable for maintaining order, enforcing local laws, and providing general public safety services within a city's boundaries. Their role and coverage may vary based on the country's law enforcement structure but generally, they're an integral part of local governance and public safety systems.
policía nacional
National police
The term 'policía nacional' in Spanish translates directly to 'national police' in English. It refers to a governmental agency that is responsible for maintaining public order, preventing and detecting crime, and enforcing the law at a national level. The national police is usually made up of officers who have authority anywhere in their own country. In contrast to local or regional police forces, the national police has a wider jurisdiction. Their duties may include everything from crime investigation to maintaining public order, traffic control, and even implementing national security policies.
policía secreta
Secret police
The term 'policía secreta' in Spanish translates to 'secret police' in English. The secret police are a law enforcement agency which operates in secrecy and beyond the law to protect the political power of an individual or regime. In some societies, secret police agencies are used to maintain the political power of the state rather than uphold law and order. Such entities typically have the power to conduct surveillance, covert operations, and other activities, often without the constraints of legal procedure.
poner una denuncia
put a complaint
The Spanish phrase 'poner una denuncia' translates to 'put a complaint' in English. It is often used in the context of making a formal complaint or report, such as to the police or another authority. This action is often done in an attempt to seek justice or a resolution for an issue or wrongdoing that has been experienced.
presentar pruebas
submit evidence
The Spanish phrase 'presentar pruebas' translates to 'submit evidence' in English. It is generally used in a legal or formal context where one needs to provide proof or evidence for a claim or allegation. In any dispute resolution, investigation or trial, the process of 'presentar pruebas' plays a crucial role. This phrase is imperative for understanding the procedural aspects of the Spanish legal system or any discourse that involves a verification or justification scenario.
prestar juramento
oath
The term 'prestar juramento' in Spanish translates to the English word 'oath'. It is generally used in legal and solemn contexts to signify a formal promise or a pledge, especially one that involves a commitment of responsibility. For example, during court proceedings or in a job, an individual may 'prestar juramento', meaning they take an oath to uphold certain duties or truths. This term is typically used when the guarantee of honesty or loyalty is of great importance.
Example sentences with prestar juramento →