ley
/ley/
law
The most common meaning of ley is 'law' (a government rule), often symbolized by scales of justice.
ley(Noun)
law
?an official rule from a government
act
?a specific piece of legislation, e.g., 'The Clean Air Act'
,statute
?a formal, written law
📝 In Action
Todos los ciudadanos deben obedecer la ley.
A2All citizens must obey the law.
El congreso aprobó una nueva ley para proteger el medio ambiente.
B1The congress passed a new law to protect the environment.
Romper la ley puede tener consecuencias serias.
B1Breaking the law can have serious consequences.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine: 'la ley'
Even though 'ley' doesn't end in '-a', it's a feminine word. Always use 'la' or 'una' with it, like 'la ley' (the law) or 'una ley importante' (an important law).
Making it Plural: 'leyes'
To talk about more than one law, 'ley' becomes 'leyes'. The 'y' changes to an 'i' before adding '-es'. This happens with other words ending in '-y' too, like 'rey' (king) which becomes 'reyes' (kings).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'ley' and 'derecho'
Mistake: "Estudio la ley en la universidad."
Correction: Estudio derecho en la universidad. 'Ley' refers to a specific, single rule or statute. 'Derecho' refers to the entire field of law as a subject of study, or a right that someone has.
Ley can also mean a 'law' or 'principle' of nature, such as the law of gravity.
ley(Noun)
law
?a rule of nature or science, e.g., 'law of gravity'
principle
?a fundamental truth or standard
,rule
?a governing standard or unwritten code
📝 In Action
La ley de la gravedad es un principio fundamental de la física.
B1The law of gravity is a fundamental principle of physics.
En los negocios, la ley de la oferta y la demanda determina los precios.
B2In business, the law of supply and demand determines prices.
Es ley de vida que las cosas cambien con el tiempo.
B2It's a fact of life that things change over time.
⭐ Usage Tips
Beyond the Government
This meaning of 'ley' is used for rules that aren't made by politicians. Think of it for science (ley de gravedad), economics (ley de la oferta), or even unwritten social rules ('la ley del más fuerte').
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ley
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'ley' to talk about a scientific principle, not a government rule?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'ley' and 'derecho'?
'Ley' is a specific rule or statute, like 'the new tax law'. Think of it as a single entry in the rulebook. 'Derecho' is the whole rulebook itself (the field of Law) or a right you have, like 'el derecho a votar' (the right to vote).
How do I make 'ley' plural?
The plural is 'leyes'. The 'y' at the end changes to an 'i' before you add '-es'. This is a common pattern for words ending in 'y', like 'rey' (king) which becomes 'reyes' (kings).