A small pile of currency (bills and coins) sitting on a surface, with a large, prominent red official seal pressed directly onto the top bill, symbolizing a financial penalty.

multa

MULL-tah

nounfA2

fine?financial penalty

Also:ticket?traffic or parking violation,penalty?general punishment

📝 In Action

Recibí una multa por aparcar en zona prohibida.

I received a fine for parking in a prohibited area.

La multa por exceso de velocidad fue de 200 euros.

The fine for speeding was 200 euros.

Si devuelves el libro tarde, tendrás que pagar una multa a la biblioteca.

If you return the book late, you will have to pay a fine to the library.

Word Connections

Synonyms

sanción (sanction, penalty)
penalización (penalty)

Common Collocations

poner una multa – to issue/give a fine (literally: to put a fine)
pagar la multa – to pay the fine
recurrir una multa – to appeal a fine

💡 Grammar Points

Gender is Feminine

Remember that 'multa' is always feminine, so you must use 'la multa' or 'una multa' when referring to it.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Dar' instead of 'Poner'

Mistake: "Me dieron una multa."

Correction: Me pusieron una multa. (In Spanish, authorities 'put' or 'place' a fine on you, using the verb 'poner', not 'dar' (to give)).

⭐ Usage Tips

Not for 'Tickets' for Entry

Only use 'multa' for a penalty. If you need a ticket for a movie, concert, or bus, use 'el billete' (Spain) or 'el boleto' (Latin America).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: multa

Question 1 of 1

Which verb is typically used when you say the police gave you a fine?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

multar(to fine (verb)) - verb

multado/a(fined (adjective/past participle)) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'multa' used for all kinds of penalties?

'Multa' specifically refers to a financial penalty. For non-financial penalties (like a suspension or a general punishment), you would typically use 'sanción' or 'castigo'.

How do I say I got a speeding ticket?

You would say: 'Recibí una multa por exceso de velocidad.'