cómplice
/KOHM-plee-seh/
accomplice
An accomplice (cómplice) often helps commit a crime or shares the spoils of a misdeed.
cómplice(Noun)
accomplice
?Person helping with a crime
,accessory
?Legal term for someone involved in a crime
associate
?Partner in a negative action
📝 In Action
La policía arrestó al ladrón y a su cómplice una hora después del robo.
B1The police arrested the thief and his accomplice an hour after the robbery.
Ella fue considerada cómplice en el fraude financiero.
B2She was considered complicit (an accessory) in the financial fraud.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Rule
This word is the same for men and women. You use 'el cómplice' for a man and 'la cómplice' for a woman. It doesn't change its ending.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'a' for female
Mistake: "La cómplica"
Correction: La cómplice. The ending -e always stays the same, regardless of the person's gender.
⭐ Usage Tips
Ser vs. Estar
Always use the verb 'ser' (to be) when describing someone as an accomplice: 'Él es el cómplice.' (He is the accomplice.)
Being complicit (cómplice) means sharing a secret or understanding with someone else.
cómplice(Adjective)
complicit
?Sharing a secret or understanding
,conspiring
?Having a shared, often playful, agreement
partner-in-crime (playful)
?Used lightheartedly for friends sharing a mischief
📝 In Action
Intercambiaron una mirada cómplice antes de empezar a reír.
B2They exchanged a knowing/complicit look before starting to laugh.
Ella es mi cómplice en todas mis aventuras locas.
B2She is my partner-in-crime (accomplice) in all my crazy adventures.
💡 Grammar Points
Placement
When used as an adjective, 'cómplice' usually comes after the noun it describes, especially when describing a specific look or gesture (e.g., 'una mirada cómplice').
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Use
This meaning is often used to describe non-verbal communication, like a 'mirada' (look) or 'sonrisa' (smile), indicating a shared secret between two people.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cómplice
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'cómplice' in its figurative, non-criminal sense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Cómplice vs. Complicidad? (Accomplice vs. Complicity)
The word 'cómplice' refers to the *person* who helps (the accomplice). 'Complicidad' refers to the *action* or the *quality* of being involved with someone else (the complicity or partnership itself).
How do I know if 'cómplice' is male or female?
'Cómplice' is a special kind of word that doesn't change its spelling. You determine the person's gender by the article you use: 'El cómplice' (male) or 'La cómplice' (female). The word itself stays the same.