Inklingo
← Dictionary

poli

POH-lee/ˈpoli/

cop, police

Also: police officer
Nounm/fA2informal
SpainMexico
A friendly cartoon police officer wearing a blue uniform and hat, standing and smiling.

📝 In Action

¡Cuidado! Hay un poli en la esquina vigilando la velocidad.

A2

Careful! There's a cop on the corner watching the speed.

Llamamos al poli después del accidente, pero tardaron en llegar.

B1

We called the police after the accident, but they were late arriving.

Mi primo quiere ser poli cuando termine sus estudios.

A2

My cousin wants to be a police officer when he finishes his studies.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • policía (police officer/police)
  • agente (agent/officer)

Common Collocations

  • el poli de tráfico – traffic cop
  • llamar al poli – to call the police (informal)

polytechnic institute

Also: polytech
NounmB2neutral/informal
A large, imposing school building designed with architectural elements suggesting science and technology, like a prominent gear on the facade.

📝 In Action

Estudió ingeniería en el Poli de Madrid.

B2

He studied engineering at the Polytechnic Institute in Madrid (The Poli).

Las carreras del Poli suelen ser más prácticas que las de la universidad tradicional.

C1

The degrees at the Polytech tend to be more practical than those at the traditional university.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: poli

Question 1 of 2

If someone says 'Mi hermano está en el Poli,' what is the most likely meaning of 'Poli' in this context?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
policía(police / police officer) — Noun
politécnico(polytechnic) — Adjective / Noun
policial(police (adj.)) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
colíbolí
📚 Etymology▼

The word 'poli' is a modern, informal clipping (shortening) of two different, longer Spanish words: *policía* (police) and *politécnico* (polytechnic). Both original words derive from ancient Greek roots related to 'city' (*polis*) and 'many/much' (*poly*), respectively.

First recorded: Mid-20th century (as an abbreviation)

Cognates (Related words)

English: policeFrench: poly

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'poli' rude or disrespectful when talking about the police?

'Poli' is generally seen as informal and casual, similar to 'cop' in English. While it's not overtly rude, it should be avoided in formal settings or when addressing an officer directly, where *agente* or *policía* is more appropriate.

How do I know if 'poli' means 'police' or 'polytechnic'?

Context is everything! If the sentence involves traffic, crimes, or safety, it means police. If it involves studying, degrees, or campuses, it means polytechnic. The gender of the article (*la poli* vs *el poli*) sometimes helps, but often the context makes it clear.