acusado
/ah-koo-SAH-doh/
defendant
As a noun in a legal context, acusado means 'defendant'.
acusado(Noun)
defendant
?legal
,the accused
?person facing charges
prisoner at the bar
?archaic legal term
📝 In Action
El abogado defendió al acusado con gran elocuencia.
B1The lawyer defended the defendant with great eloquence.
El acusado se declaró inocente ante el juez.
A2The accused declared himself innocent before the judge.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Match
When using 'acusado' as a noun, remember to change the ending and the article to match the person's gender: 'el acusado' (man) vs. 'la acusada' (woman).
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Context
This word is almost exclusively used in formal, legal, or journalistic settings. For everyday blame, use words like 'culpar' or 'echar la culpa'.
When used as an adjective, acusado means 'accused', describing the state of being charged with a crime.
acusado(Adjective)
accused
?charged with a crime
,pronounced
?very noticeable or distinct feature
sharp
?of features, e.g., nose
,marked
?of symptoms or severity
📝 In Action
Tenía un acento muy acusado, típico de su región.
B2He had a very pronounced accent, typical of his region.
La paciente presentaba un dolor acusado en el pecho.
C1The patient presented a marked pain in the chest.
La persona acusada fue liberada por falta de pruebas.
B1The accused person was released due to lack of evidence.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement is Key
As an adjective, 'acusado' must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes: 'rasgos acusados' (masculine plural features), 'diferencia acusada' (feminine singular difference).
⭐ Usage Tips
Beyond Legal
When describing non-legal things, think of 'acusado' as meaning 'strongly present' or 'clearly visible,' especially for things like physical features or symptoms.
As a past participle, acusado means 'accused' (referring to the past action of having been charged).
📝 In Action
Ellos han acusado al político de corrupción.
A2They have accused the politician of corruption.
La carta fue acusada de recibo esta mañana.
B2The letter was acknowledged (accused) upon receipt this morning.
💡 Grammar Points
Forming Perfect Tenses
The past participle 'acusado' is the key building block that combines with forms of 'haber' (to have) to create perfect tenses, showing an action completed in the past: 'Hemos acusado' (We have accused).
Passive Voice
When used with 'ser' or 'estar,' 'acusado' acts like an adjective to describe a state or a passive action: 'El sospechoso fue acusado' (The suspect was accused).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Participle Alone
Mistake: "'Yo acusado' (I accused)."
Correction: You must use an auxiliary verb to make sense. For past action, say 'Yo he acusado' (I have accused). For a description, say 'Yo soy acusado' (I am accused).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: acusado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'acusado' to mean 'very noticeable' or 'pronounced'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How is 'acusado' different from 'culpable'?
'Acusado' simply means someone has been charged with a crime. They might be innocent. 'Culpable' means they have been found guilty of the crime by a court.
Can I use 'acusado' to describe sharp features, like a nose?
Yes. When used as an adjective for physical features or differences, 'acusado' means 'sharp,' 'pronounced,' or 'well-defined,' emphasizing that the feature is very noticeable.