policía
/po-lee-SEE-ah/
the police
This image shows a police car, which is a common symbol for *la policía* (the police force) as an institution.
policía(Noun)
📝 In Action
Si tienes una emergencia, llama a la policía.
A1If you have an emergency, call the police.
La policía llegó en menos de cinco minutos.
A2The police arrived in less than five minutes.
La policía nacional está investigando el robo.
B1The national police are investigating the robbery.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine for the Force
When you're talking about the police as a whole organization, the word 'policía' is always feminine. That's why we say 'la policía' or 'una policía corrupta' (a corrupt police force).
Singular Verb for a Group
In Spanish, it's common to use a singular verb with 'la policía' even though it refers to a group of people. For example, 'La policía dice...' (The police says...), which in English we'd often say as 'The police say...'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'el' for the Institution
Mistake: "El policía llegó al accidente."
Correction: La policía llegó al accidente. When referring to the police force as a group, always use 'la'. 'El policía' refers to a single male officer.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Force vs. An Officer
If you hear 'Llegó la policía', it most likely means 'The police (force/multiple officers) arrived'. If you want to talk about one specific officer, you'd usually say 'Llegó un policía' or 'Llegó una policía'.
This image depicts *el policía*, referring to a single male police officer.
📝 In Action
Un policía me pidió mi licencia.
A1A police officer asked me for my license.
El policía de la esquina es muy amable.
A2The police officer on the corner is very friendly.
Mi tío es policía en Madrid.
A2My uncle is a police officer in Madrid.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Signals the Person
The little word before 'policía' tells you who you're talking about. Use 'el' (the) or 'un' (a) to talk about one male officer.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender Mismatch
Mistake: "La policía es mi hermano."
Correction: El policía es mi hermano. Since 'hermano' (brother) is male, you need to use the masculine article 'el' to match.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking about Profession
When saying what someone does for a living, you often drop the 'un'. For example, 'Juan es policía' (Juan is a police officer), not 'Juan es un policía'.
This image depicts *la policía* (or *una policía*), referring to a single female police officer.
📝 In Action
Hay una mujer policía en la puerta.
A1There is a policewoman at the door.
La policía me ayudó a encontrar la calle.
A2The police officer (female) helped me find the street.
Mi prima quiere ser policía.
A2My cousin (female) wants to be a police officer.
💡 Grammar Points
Same Word, Different Meaning
'La policía' can mean 'the police force' or 'the female police officer'. The situation or the rest of the sentence will tell you which one it is.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing the Person and the Force
Mistake: "Mi hermana es la policía."
Correction: Mi hermana es policía. Saying 'es la policía' could sound like she *is* the entire police force. When stating a profession, just use the noun without 'la' or 'una'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Una' for Clarity
To make it super clear you're talking about one female officer and not the whole institution, use the word 'una'. For example, 'Vi a una policía en el parque' (I saw a policewoman in the park).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: policía
Question 1 of 2
You see a single male officer helping someone. How would you describe this situation?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make 'policía' plural?
It's easy! For a group of male officers or a mixed-gender group, you say 'los policías'. For a group of only female officers, you say 'las policías'.
So 'la policía' can mean the force OR a female officer. Isn't that confusing?
It can seem tricky at first, but context almost always makes it clear. If someone says 'Mi tía es policía,' you know they mean she's an officer. If you hear on the news 'La policía detuvo a dos personas,' it's clear they mean the institution. You'll get the hang of it quickly!
Is there another word for a police officer?
Yes, you can also use 'agente' (agent) or 'oficial' (officer). For example, 'un agente de policía' is very common and sounds a little more formal.