juzgar
/hooz-GAR/
to judge
To judge, meaning to form an opinion or evaluate something.
juzgar(verb)
to judge
?to form an opinion or evaluate
to criticize
?to pass negative judgment on someone
,to assess
?to make a careful evaluation
📝 In Action
No debes juzgar un libro por su portada.
A2You shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
¿Quién eres tú para juzgar mi decisión?
B1Who are you to judge my decision?
Ella juzga a los demás con mucha dureza.
B1She judges others very harshly.
💡 Grammar Points
The '-gar' Spelling Change
When conjugating 'juzgar,' the 'g' changes to 'gu' before an 'e' sound. This happens in the 'yo' form of the past tense (juzgué) and across the entire present subjunctive (juzgue, juzgues, etc.).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing the 'u'
Mistake: "Using *juzge* instead of *juzgue* in the subjunctive."
Correction: Always remember the 'u' after the 'g' in the subjunctive and preterite 'yo' form to keep the hard 'g' sound: *juzgue*.
⭐ Usage Tips
Usage with Prepositions
If you are judging something about a topic, you often use 'sobre' or 'de': 'Juzgó sobre la calidad del trabajo' (He judged the quality of the work).
To judge, meaning to decide a legal case.
juzgar(verb)
to judge
?to decide a legal case
to try
?to conduct a trial
,to pass sentence
?to deliver a verdict
📝 In Action
El tribunal juzgará el caso la próxima semana.
B1The court will judge the case next week.
El juez juzgó al acusado inocente.
B2The judge judged the defendant innocent. (or: The judge found the defendant innocent.)
💡 Grammar Points
The Passive Voice
In legal contexts, 'juzgar' is often used in the passive voice to describe the defendant: 'El acusado fue juzgado' (The defendant was judged/tried).
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Contexts
This meaning of 'juzgar' is primarily used when discussing legal systems, courts, judges (jueces), and trials (juicios).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: juzgar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'juzgar' in its common, non-legal sense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'juzgar' always mean to criticize negatively?
Not always. While it often implies criticism (like in English: 'Don't judge me!'), it can also mean simply 'to evaluate' or 'to form an opinion,' which can be neutral or positive, especially in formal contexts.
How is 'juzgar' different from 'opinar'?
'Opinar' simply means 'to give an opinion.' 'Juzgar' is stronger; it means to evaluate that opinion and often implies delivering a final verdict or assessment, which is why it works for both legal and moral judgments.