policial
/po-li-siál/
police
This image shows the adjective form of 'policial,' meaning 'police' (related to law enforcement).
policial(adjective)
police
?as an adjective describing something
,law enforcement
?related to the police force
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
As an adjective, 'policial' always stays the same regardless of whether the noun is masculine or feminine (e.g., 'el informe policial,' 'la unidad policial'). However, it must agree in number: 'informes policiales' (plural).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'policía' instead of 'policial'
Mistake: "La policía investigación fue difícil."
Correction: La investigación policial fue difícil. ('Policía' is the person or institution; 'policial' describes the investigation.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Easy Substitution
In many contexts, 'policial' acts like the word 'police' when it's used to describe another noun (e.g., police car, police station).
When used as a noun, 'policial' refers to a 'police drama'—a fictional story involving crime and investigation.
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Shortened Noun
This noun form is a shortened version of phrases like 'película policial' (police film) or 'novela policial' (police novel). You use 'el' because the word 'policial' takes the place of the implied masculine noun (like 'el filme').
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
When you hear 'un policial,' it almost always refers to a story or film about police work, not the officer themselves (who is 'un policía').
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: policial
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'policial' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
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').