ilegalmente
“ilegalmente” means “illegally” in Spanish (acting against the law).
illegally
Also: unlawfully, against the law
📝 In Action
Él cruzó la frontera ilegalmente.
A2He crossed the border illegally.
Muchas personas descargan películas ilegalmente de internet.
B1Many people download movies illegally from the internet.
La empresa obtuvo los documentos ilegalmente.
B2The company obtained the documents unlawfully.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ilegalmente
Question 1 of 3
Which word is the opposite of 'ilegalmente'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'in-' (meaning 'not') combined with 'legalis' (meaning 'pertaining to law') and the suffix '-mente' (derived from 'mens', meaning 'manner' or 'mind').
First recorded: 16th Century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'ilegalmente' considered a formal word?
It is neutral. You can use it in a courtroom or while talking to a friend about a movie download. It's not overly stiff, but it is clear and precise.
Does the word change if I'm talking about a woman or a group?
No. Words ending in '-mente' are 'invariable,' which is a fancy way of saying they never change their ending based on who is doing the action.
Can I say 'de forma ilegal' instead?
Yes! 'De forma ilegal' (in an illegal way) means the exact same thing and is very common in spoken Spanish.