acusación
ah-koo-sah-SYOHN
📝 In Action
El director negó rotundamente la acusación de fraude.
B1The director flatly denied the accusation of fraud.
La policía presentó una acusación formal contra el sospechoso.
B2The police filed a formal charge against the suspect.
Su silencio fue tomado como una aceptación de la acusación.
B1His silence was taken as an acceptance of the accusation.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Noun Pattern
Words in Spanish that end in '-ción' (like 'acusación,' 'canción,' or 'situación') are almost always feminine. This means they use 'la' or 'una' before them.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up the Noun and Verb
Mistake: "Using the verb 'acusar' when you need the noun: 'Hizo un acusar grave.'"
Correction: Use the noun form: 'Hizo una acusación grave.' (He made a serious accusation.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Informal
While you can use 'acusación' in daily life, for minor complaints or claims (like blaming someone for being late), 'queja' (complaint) or 'reproche' (reproach) might sound less dramatic or formal.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: acusación
Question 1 of 2
Which Spanish phrase correctly describes the act of officially filing a legal complaint?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'acusación' always used in a serious, legal way?
Not always! While it is used for formal legal charges, you can also use it in everyday life to describe a strong claim against someone, even if it's just about who ate the last cookie. It implies a serious claim of wrongdoing.
How do I know if I should use 'la acusación' or 'el cargo'?
'La acusación' is the general term for the claim itself (the act of blaming someone). 'El cargo' is often a more specific legal term referring to a count or type of offense (e.g., 'tres cargos de robo' — three counts of theft). They are often interchangeable in non-legal talk.