crímenes
KREE-meh-nes
📝 In Action
La policía está investigando una serie de crímenes en el barrio.
A2The police are investigating a series of crimes in the neighborhood.
Los crímenes de guerra no deben quedar impunes.
B2War crimes must not go unpunished.
El informe detalla los crímenes financieros cometidos por la empresa.
B1The report details the financial crimes committed by the company.
💡 Grammar Points
Plural Form
This word is the plural form of the singular noun 'crimen'. Both the singular and plural forms are masculine, so you always use 'el' or 'un' before the singular, and 'los' or 'unos' before 'crímenes'.
Gender Agreement
When describing 'crímenes', remember to use masculine, plural adjectives. For example, 'crímenes graves' (serious crimes), not 'graves crímenas'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong gender
Mistake: "La crímenes son malos."
Correction: Los crímenes son malos. ('Crímenes' is always masculine.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Common Use
While 'crímenes' is used for serious offenses, 'delitos' is often used in Spanish legal systems for a wider range of offenses, sometimes including less severe ones. Use 'crímenes' when emphasizing severity.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: crímenes
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'crímenes'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know when to use 'crímenes' versus 'delitos'?
'Crímenes' usually refers to the most serious offenses, often those punishable by long prison sentences. 'Delitos' is a broader term that can include less severe offenses, though in everyday speech, they are often used interchangeably.
Why is 'crímenes' masculine, since many Spanish words ending in -e are feminine?
While many nouns ending in -e are feminine, 'crímenes' (and its singular 'crimen') is masculine. You simply have to memorize that it belongs to the 'el/los' group. Think of it as an exception to the common pattern.