policía
“policía” means “the police” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
the police, the police force
📝 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.
police officer, policeman
📝 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.
police officer, policewoman
📝 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.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ 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
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'politia', which itself came from the Greek 'politeia'. 'Politeia' meant 'citizenship' or 'government' and was related to 'polis', the Greek word for a city-state. So, 'policía' is fundamentally about the administration and order of a city.
First recorded: Around the 15th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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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.