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culpable

kool-PAH-bleh/kulˈpable/

“culpable” means “guilty” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

guilty

Also: responsible, blameworthy
A simple cartoon figure standing alone, looking down with a deeply ashamed and guilty expression, with shoulders slumped.

📝 In Action

El jurado lo declaró culpable después de dos horas de deliberación.

B1

The jury declared him guilty after two hours of deliberation.

Me siento culpable por haberme comido todo el pastel.

A2

I feel guilty for having eaten the whole cake.

Si no estudias, serás culpable de tu propio fracaso.

B2

If you don't study, you will be responsible for your own failure.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • responsable (responsible)
  • causante (the cause/responsible party)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • declarar culpable – to find/declare guilty
  • sentirse culpable – to feel guilty

the culprit

Also: the guilty party, the offender
NounmB1neutral/formal
A cartoon raccoon wearing a small black mask stands next to an empty, open cookie jar, clearly having been caught in the act.

📝 In Action

La policía identificó al culpable gracias a las cámaras de seguridad.

B1

The police identified the culprit thanks to the security cameras.

El director no pudo encontrar un solo culpable para el problema.

B2

The director couldn't find a single guilty party for the problem.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • autor (perpetrator)
  • infractor (violator)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • buscar al culpable – to look for the culprit

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "culpable" in Spanish:

blameworthy→guilty→responsible→the culprit→the offender→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: culpable

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly specifies what someone is guilty of?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the Latin word *culpabilis*, which means 'blameworthy.' The root is the simple Latin noun *culpa*, meaning 'fault' or 'blame.'

First recorded: Medieval Latin (c. 13th century in Spanish)

Cognates (Related words)

English: culpablePortuguese: culpávelFrench: coupable

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'culpable' change based on whether the person is male or female?

No, the form of the word itself always stays the same: 'culpable.' It only changes in number (culpable singular, culpables plural), but not gender. You say 'el hombre culpable' and 'la mujer culpable'.

How is 'culpable' different from 'responsable'?

'Culpable' almost always carries a negative moral or legal weight (guilty, blameworthy). 'Responsable' is more neutral and means simply 'responsible for a task or outcome,' which can be positive or negative.