A criminal case, step by step
De la denuncia a la sentencia
1
la denunciadeh-NOON-thyahreport to the policePOO-seh OO-nah deh-NOON-thyah en koh-mee-sah-REE-ah · “I reported it at the police station.”Why: poner una denuncia = to file a report. Puse is the preterite of poner.
PuseI-putuna denunciaa reporten comisaría.at police-station
2
la detencióndeh-ten-THYONarrestlah poh-lee-THEE-ah loh deh-TOO-boh · “The police arrested him.”Why: detener (like tener) has an irregular past: detuvo.
La policíathe policelohimdetuvo.arrested
3
la investigacióneen-bes-tee-gah-THYONinvestigationel KAH-soh es-TAH BAH-hoh een-bes-tee-gah-THYON · “The case is under investigation.”Why: estar, because it is a temporary state.
El casothe caseestáisbajounderinvestigación.investigation
4
el juicioHWEE-thyohtrialel HWEE-thyoh em-PYEH-thah el LOO-nes · “The trial starts on Monday.”Why: Days take el: el lunes = on Monday.
El juiciothe trialempiezabeginsel lunes.the Monday
5
el veredictobeh-reh-DEEK-tohverdictloh deh-klah-RAH-ron kool-PAH-bleh · “He was found guilty.”Why: Spanish often uses “they declared him” where English uses a passive.
Lohimdeclararonthey-declaredculpable.guilty
6
el recursorreh-KOOR-sohappealBAN ah rreh-koo-RREER lah sen-TEN-thyah · “They’re going to appeal the ruling.”Why: recurrir = to appeal; un recurso = an appeal.
Van athey-go torecurrirappealla sentencia.the ruling
Crimes: the noun, the person, the verb
El robo, el hurto, la estafa
Spanish law separates crimes English often lumps together: el hurto is theft without force (pickpocketing), el robo involves force or breaking in. The general word for a crime is el delito.
| Crime | Person | Verb | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| el roboRROH-boh | el ladrón / la ladrona | robar | robbery, burglary |
| el hurtoOOR-toh | el carterista | hurtar | theft, pickpocketing |
| la estafaes-TAH-fah | el estafador | estafar | fraud, scam |
| el asesinatoah-seh-see-NAH-toh | el asesino | asesinar | murder |
| el secuestroseh-KWES-troh | el secuestrador | secuestrar | kidnapping |
| el sobornosoh-BOR-noh | — | sobornar | bribery |
| la agresiónah-greh-SYON | el agresor | agredir | assault |
Everyday legal situations
Denuncia or demanda, multa or sanción
demandar · to suedeh-man-DOH ah soo em-PREH-sah · “He sued his company.”Why: The person or company sued takes a: demandar a alguien.
Demandóhe-suedatosuhisempresa.company
la multa · finemeh poo-SYEH-ron OO-nah MOOL-tah · “I got a fine.”Why: Spanish says “they put me a fine”: poner una multa.
Meto-mepusieronthey-putuna multa.a fine
el contrato · contractFEER-mah ah-KEE el kon-TRAH-toh · “Sign the contract here.”Why: firmar = to sign. Firma is the tú command (a direct instruction).
Firmasignaquíhereel contrato.the contract
el notario · notaryFWEE-mohs al noh-TAH-ryoh · “We went to the notary.”Why: In Spain, buying a flat or making a will requires a notario.
Fuimoswe-wentalto-thenotario.notary
Rights and obligations
Tiene derecho a…
Tener derecho a + infinitive (the dictionary form of a verb) means “to have the right to”. Its opposite is estar obligado a, “to be obliged to”.
DerechosTYEH-neh deh-REH-choh ah oon ah-boh-GAH-doh · “You have the right to a lawyer.”Why: Tiene with usted: the formal you, used by police.TYEH-neh deh-REH-choh ah gwar-DAR see-LEN-thyoh · “You have the right to remain silent.”Why: guardar silencio = to remain silent (literally “keep silence”).
Tieneyou-havederecho aright toun abogado.a lawyer
Tieneyou-havederecho aright toguardar silencio.keep silence
Obligacioneses-TAH oh-blee-GAH-doh ah pah-GAR · “He is required to pay.”Why: obligado agrees: obligada for a woman.KEH-dah proh-ee-BEE-doh foo-MAR · “Smoking is prohibited.”Why: The formal sign wording. queda = is (officially).
Estáhe-isobligado aobliged topagar.pay
Quedaremainsprohibidoforbiddenfumar.to-smoke
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