fraude
/FROW-deh/
fraud
Fraude often refers to illegal deception aimed at financial gain.
fraude(noun)
fraud
?illegal deception for financial gain
,swindle
?act of trickery
scam
?a planned trick
,deception
?the act of misleading
📝 In Action
La policía investiga un presunto fraude electoral.
B2The police are investigating alleged electoral fraud.
El contador cometió fraude fiscal y ahora está en la cárcel.
B1The accountant committed tax fraud and is now in jail.
Recibimos una alerta sobre un posible fraude con tarjetas de crédito.
B1We received an alert about potential credit card fraud.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Check
'Fraude' is a masculine noun, even though it ends in '-e'. Always use 'el' or 'un': 'el fraude'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong article
Mistake: "La fraude es un delito."
Correction: El fraude es un delito. ('Fraude' is masculine, so it requires 'el.')
⭐ Usage Tips
Action Verb
When you want to describe the action of committing fraud, the most common verb used with this word is 'cometer' (to commit).
When something turns out to be disappointing, it can also be described as fraude (a letdown).
📝 In Action
Fuimos al restaurante nuevo y resultó ser un fraude total.
B2We went to the new restaurant and it turned out to be a total fraud (a huge disappointment).
Su presentación fue un fraude; no dijo nada interesante.
C1His presentation was a fraud; he didn't say anything interesting.
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Opinion
This usage is subjective and usually follows verbs like 'ser' (to be) or 'resultar' (to turn out to be) when expressing a negative opinion about something or someone's quality.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: fraude
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'fraude' in the informal sense of disappointment?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'fraude' always a serious crime?
Not always. While 'fraude' often refers to serious legal and financial crimes (like tax fraud), it is also commonly used in everyday conversation to describe something that is a big disappointment or a total fake (like a bad movie or a terrible meal).
How do you form the verb related to 'fraude'?
The related verb is 'defraudar,' which means 'to defraud' (commit fraud) or, more generally, 'to disappoint' or 'let down.' For example: 'Me defraudaste' (You disappointed me).