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culpables

/kool-PAH-blehs/

guilty

Two simplified storybook characters, a man and a woman, standing side-by-side, both looking down with expressions of shame, depicting the state of being guilty.

The image shows two individuals who are guilty (culpables) of a fault.

culpables(Adjective)

m/fB1

guilty

?

describing people who committed a crime or fault

Also:

responsible

?

when referring to who caused a negative outcome

📝 In Action

Los testigos confirmaron que ambos eran culpables del accidente.

B1

The witnesses confirmed that both were guilty of the accident.

Parece que somos culpables de no haberlo intentado antes.

B2

It seems we are guilty of not having tried it sooner.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • declarados culpables – declared guilty
  • ser considerados culpables – to be considered guilty

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Agreement

Since 'culpables' is the plural form, it must be used to describe plural people or things. It is gender-neutral, meaning it works for both groups of men and groups of women.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'tener culpa' vs. 'ser culpable'

Mistake: "Usar 'Estamos culpa' (Incorrect literal translation of 'We are guilty')."

Correction: Use 'Somos culpables' (We are guilty) or 'Tenemos la culpa' (We have the fault/We are to blame).

⭐ Usage Tips

Usage with 'Ser'

This adjective almost always follows the verb 'ser' (to be) when stating a fact about someone's guilt: 'Ellos son culpables'.

Two children, a boy and a girl, standing near a freshly broken vase, indicating they are the ones responsible for the damage.

These two children are the culprits (culpables) who broke the vase.

culpables(Noun)

m/fB2

culprits

?

the people who committed the crime

Also:

guilty parties

?

formal term for those responsible

,

offenders

?

legal context

📝 In Action

La investigación identificó a los culpables y los llevó a juicio.

B2

The investigation identified the culprits and brought them to trial.

Los culpables deben pagar por sus errores.

B1

The guilty ones must pay for their mistakes.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • autores (perpetrators)
  • transgresores (transgressors)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • buscar a los culpables – to look for the culprits
  • castigo a los culpables – punishment for the guilty parties

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Acting as Noun

In Spanish, adjectives that describe people can often be used as nouns by placing an article (like 'los' or 'las') in front of them, turning 'guilty' into 'the guilty ones' or 'the culprits'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal Tone

Using 'los culpables' sounds slightly more formal or journalistic than just saying 'las personas que tienen la culpa' (the people who have the fault).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: culpables

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'culpables' as a noun (referring to the people themselves)?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'culpables' change based on gender?

No, 'culpables' is a single form used for plural groups, regardless of whether the group is masculine ('los hombres') or feminine ('las mujeres'). The singular form is 'culpable' for both genders too.

What is the difference between 'culpables' and 'responsables'?

'Culpables' specifically implies fault, blame, or involvement in a negative act or crime (guilty). 'Responsables' means responsible, which can be positive or negative (e.g., 'responsible for the success' or 'responsible for the accident').