delincuente
/deh-leen-KWEHN-teh/
criminal
As a noun, delincuente refers to a criminal, or a person who commits a crime.
delincuente(noun)
criminal
?person who commits a crime
,offender
?legal context
delinquent
?often implying a minor or petty crime
📝 In Action
La policía capturó al delincuente después del robo.
B1The police captured the criminal after the robbery.
La delincuente fue identificada por las cámaras de seguridad.
B2The female offender was identified by the security cameras.
Necesitamos reducir el número de jóvenes delincuentes en la ciudad.
B2We need to reduce the number of young offenders in the city.
💡 Grammar Points
One Form, Two Genders
This word is special because it looks the same whether you are talking about a man or a woman. The only thing that changes is the article (el or la): 'el delincuente' (male) and 'la delincuente' (female).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't Change the Ending
Mistake: "Using *delincuento* for a man or *delincuenta* for a woman."
Correction: The ending is always '-ente'. Only change 'el' to 'la' to show the person's gender.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Informal
While 'ladrón' (thief) is common for small-scale crime, 'delincuente' is a broader, more formal term covering any person who has committed an illegal act.
As an adjective, delincuente describes an act or behavior that is criminal or illegal.
delincuente(adjective)
criminal
?describing an act or behavior
,offending
?related to the commission of a crime
📝 In Action
La actividad delincuente ha aumentado en la zona.
B2Criminal activity has increased in the area.
El grupo fue acusado de asociación delincuente.
C1The group was accused of criminal association.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Invariable
As an adjective, 'delincuente' is also invariable: it doesn't change based on the gender or number of the noun it describes. It works for 'actividad delincuente' (singular feminine) and 'grupos delincuentes' (plural masculine).
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on the Action
This adjective is typically used when discussing abstract concepts of crime, like 'actividad' (activity) or 'conducta' (conduct), rather than describing personal characteristics.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: delincuente
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'delincuente' to refer to a female person?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'delincuente' a strong or weak word?
'Delincuente' is a formal and serious word, usually used in legal or journalistic contexts. It implies that the person has committed an actual crime, not just a small mistake.
How is 'delincuente' different from 'delito'?
'Delincuente' is the person who commits the act (the criminal). 'Delito' is the act itself (the crime or offense).