ley
“ley” means “law” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
law
Also: act, statute
📝 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.
law
Also: principle, rule
📝 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.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ 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
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'lex' (or 'legem' in one of its forms), which meant 'law' or 'a binding agreement'. It has been a core word in Spanish for centuries, keeping its original meaning of a rule or principle that must be followed.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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).