legal
“legal” means “legal” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
legal, lawful
Also: statutory
📝 In Action
Necesitas un documento legal para cruzar la frontera.
B1You need a legal document to cross the border.
La decisión del juez fue completamente legal.
B2The judge's decision was completely lawful.
Buscaremos asesoramiento legal antes de firmar el contrato.
B2We will seek legal advice before signing the contract.
cool, legit
Also: fantastic
📝 In Action
¡Esa nueva canción está super legal!
A2That new song is super cool!
¿Vamos al cine? ¡Sí, legal!
A2Shall we go to the cinema? Yes, awesome!
Conocí a tu hermano, es muy legal.
B1I met your brother, he's really great (a good person).
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: legal
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'legal' in its formal meaning?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *legālis*, meaning 'pertaining to the law.' The modern slang meaning of 'cool' is a recent development, implying something is 'legit' or completely acceptable.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'legal' means 'lawful' or 'cool'?
Context is key! If you are talking about documents, courts, or rules, it means 'lawful.' If you are describing a person, a party, or a fun experience, it almost certainly means 'cool' or 'awesome.' Listen to the tone of the conversation.
Does 'legal' change its ending for masculine and feminine nouns?
No. 'Legal' is an adjective that always stays the same, regardless of whether the noun is masculine or feminine. You say 'un documento legal' and 'una situación legal'.