leyes
“leyes” means “laws” in Spanish (official statutes).
laws
Also: rules, legislation
📝 In Action
Debemos obedecer las leyes de tráfico.
A1We must obey the traffic laws.
El presidente firmó las nuevas leyes ambientales.
B1The president signed the new environmental legislation.
Las leyes de la física son universales.
B2The laws of physics are universal.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: leyes
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'leyes'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Latin word *lex*, which meant 'law, statute, or contract.' The Spanish word has kept its meaning very closely tied to its Roman roots.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'leyes' feminine, even though it ends in -es?
The word 'ley' (the singular form) is feminine, and this gender carries over to the plural form 'leyes.' This is a pattern you just need to memorize, similar to 'la llave' (the key).
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'leyes' y 'reglas'?
Both mean 'rules,' but 'leyes' refers to formal, governmental statutes (laws passed by a congress), while 'reglas' refers to general rules, like those for a game, a school, or a household.