inocentes
/ee-noh-SEHN-tehs/
innocent
Representing someone who is innocent, or not guilty of a crime.
inocentes(Adjective)
innocent
?not guilty of a crime
,naive
?lacking experience or wisdom
harmless
?describing actions or things
📝 In Action
Los niños eran inocentes y no entendían la broma.
A2The children were innocent and didn't understand the joke.
El jurado declaró a los acusados inocentes de todos los cargos.
B1The jury declared the accused innocent of all charges.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
Since 'inocentes' is describing multiple things or people, it must always end in '-es' to match the plural noun.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Singular Form
Mistake: "Los chicos es inocente."
Correction: Los chicos son inocentes. (Make sure the adjective matches the number of people.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Naivety
You can use 'inocentes' to describe adults who are easily fooled or lack worldly knowledge, not just children.
Referring to innocent people collectively.
📝 In Action
Siempre debemos proteger a los inocentes.
B1We must always protect the innocent.
La guerra siempre resulta en la muerte de muchos inocentes.
B2War always results in the death of many innocent people.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective functioning as a Noun
When you put the article 'los' (the) before the plural adjective 'inocentes', it stops being a descriptor and starts acting like a noun, meaning 'the innocent people'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using Gender
Use 'los inocentes' for a group of mixed gender or an unknown group. Use 'las inocentes' only if referring exclusively to innocent women or girls.
Illustrating the tradition of playing practical jokes or pranks on December 28th.
inocentes(Noun)
practical jokes
?pranks played on December 28th
,Holy Innocents
?reference to the religious holiday
📝 In Action
¡Cuidado! Hoy es el Día de los Inocentes.
B1Be careful! Today is the Day of the Holy Innocents (April Fools' Day).
Me hicieron un inocente y casi me lo creo.
B2They played a prank on me and I almost believed it.
💡 Grammar Points
Cultural Meaning
In many Spanish-speaking countries, December 28th is celebrated similarly to April Fools' Day, where people play lighthearted tricks, which are also called 'inocentes'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Responding to a Trick
If someone tricks you on December 28th, they will often say: '¡Que la inocencia te valga!' (May innocence be worthwhile to you!)
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: inocentes
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'inocentes' to refer to a cultural tradition?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'inocentes' the same as 'naive'?
Yes, 'inocentes' can mean naive, especially when describing someone who is easily fooled or lacks knowledge of the world. However, it is also the primary word for 'not guilty' in a legal sense.
Why is the plural form 'inocentes' used for the Day of the Holy Innocents?
The holiday refers to the plurality of the infants killed by King Herod (the Holy Innocents). By extension, the pranks played on that day are simply called 'inocentes' as well.