policial
“policial” means “police” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
police, law enforcement
📝 In Action
La investigación policial duró seis meses.
A2The police investigation lasted six months.
Necesitan una orden policial para entrar a la casa.
B1They need a police warrant to enter the house.
Ella trabaja en la Academia Policial de la ciudad.
A2She works at the city's Police Academy.
police drama, crime story
📝 In Action
¿Viste el nuevo policial que estrenaron en Netflix?
B1Did you see the new crime show/police drama they premiered on Netflix?
Me gusta leer un buen policial antes de dormir.
B2I like reading a good crime novel before sleeping.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: policial
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'policial' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Formed in Spanish by adding the common adjective suffix '-al' (meaning 'related to') to the noun 'policía.' The word 'policía' itself comes from the ancient Greek word 'polis,' meaning 'city' or 'civil administration.'
First recorded: Mid-19th century (in its modern usage)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'policial' and 'policía'?
'Policía' is the noun, meaning either 'the police force' or 'a police officer.' 'Policial' is the adjective, meaning 'related to the police.' Think of 'policial' as the word you use to describe things: 'police car,' 'police report,' etc.
Does 'policial' change based on gender?
No, 'policial' is one of those adjectives that stays the same whether the thing it describes is masculine or feminine (e.g., 'el coche policial,' 'la unidad policial'). It only changes form when the noun is plural ('policiales').