detectives
deh-tehk-TEE-vehs
📝 In Action
Los detectives llegaron a la escena del crimen muy rápido.
A2The detectives arrived at the crime scene very quickly.
Esta serie de televisión trata sobre un grupo de detectives que resuelven casos difíciles.
B1This TV series is about a group of detectives who solve difficult cases.
Contrataron detectives privados para seguir la pista del dinero perdido.
B2They hired private investigators to follow the trail of the lost money.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Plural
Even though the singular form ('detective') can refer to both a man or a woman, 'detectives' is the standard plural form used for groups of men or mixed groups. If you need to specify a group of only women, you might hear 'las detectives' or 'las detectivas' (less common).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong article
Mistake: "La detectives están aquí."
Correction: Los detectives están aquí. Since 'detectives' is a masculine plural noun, it needs the masculine plural article 'los'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
In Spanish, the word 'detective' often applies to police personnel, but in English, 'investigator' might be a broader term. Use 'detectives' most often when referring to the people solving crimes in TV shows or books.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: detectives
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses the noun 'detectives'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'detectives' only used for men?
No. While it is a masculine plural noun ('los detectives'), it is the standard, neutral term used to refer to any group of investigators, regardless of gender composition. If the group is all female, 'las detectives' is also common.