sentencia
/sen-TEN-see-ah/
sentence
Visualizing sentencia meaning a legal punishment or judgment, symbolized by a judge's gavel.
📝 In Action
La sentencia por el robo fue de cinco años de prisión.
B1The sentence for the robbery was five years in prison.
El juez dictará la sentencia el próximo martes.
B2The judge will issue the verdict next Tuesday.
Los abogados están preparando una apelación contra la sentencia.
B2The lawyers are preparing an appeal against the ruling.
💡 Grammar Points
The Action of Judging
To say that a judge 'passes' or 'issues' a sentence, use the verb 'dictar': 'El juez dictó sentencia' (The judge issued the sentence).
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Context
This meaning is almost always used in a serious, official, or legal setting, even when discussing non-criminal court cases.
This illustration represents sentencia when it means a maxim or wise saying, often conveyed through symbols of wisdom and enlightenment.
📝 In Action
El libro de filosofía estaba lleno de sentencias sobre la vida y la muerte.
C1The philosophy book was full of maxims about life and death.
Ella habló con tanta autoridad que cada frase parecía una sentencia.
C2She spoke with such authority that every phrase seemed like a profound pronouncement.
⭐ Usage Tips
Literary Use
When used this way, 'sentencia' usually implies a statement that is widely accepted as true, traditional, or carries great moral weight, similar to a proverb.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sentencia
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'sentencia' in its literary meaning (a wise saying)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'sentencia' always mean a prison sentence?
No. While it can mean a prison sentence, 'sentencia' broadly means the final legal decision or ruling of a judge or court, which could be anything from a fine to freedom, depending on the case.
How is 'sentencia' related to the English word 'sentence'?
They are direct relatives! Both come from the Latin *sententia*. In English, 'sentence' can mean a punishment or a grammatical unit (a string of words), reflecting the original Latin sense of a 'complete thought' or 'judgment'.