Inklingo

sospecha

soh-SPEH-chah/sosˈpetʃa/

sospecha means suspicion in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

suspicion

Also: doubt, inkling
NounfB1
A small, wide-eyed cartoon mouse hiding behind a large piece of cheese, peering nervously at a dark shadow approaching from the side, illustrating a feeling of suspicion.

📝 In Action

La policía actuó bajo la sospecha de fraude.

B1

The police acted under the suspicion of fraud.

No tengo ninguna sospecha sobre su honestidad.

A2

I don't have any suspicion about his honesty.

Su comportamiento levantó muchas sospechas.

B2

His behavior raised a lot of suspicions.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • duda (doubt)
  • recelo (mistrust)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • bajo sospechaunder suspicion
  • tener una sospechato have a suspicion

he/she/it suspects

Also: (you formal) suspect
VerbA2regular ar
A cartoon detective wearing a trench coat and hat, holding a magnifying glass and looking intensely at a single, isolated footprint in the dirt, depicting the act of suspecting.
infinitivesospechar (to suspect)
gerundsospechando (suspecting)
past Participlesospechado (suspected)

📝 In Action

Ella sospecha que su vecino sabe la verdad.

A2

She suspects that her neighbor knows the truth.

¿Usted sospecha que hubo un error en el cálculo?

B1

Do you (formal) suspect that there was an error in the calculation?

Si el perro sospecha algo, ladra mucho.

A2

If the dog suspects something, it barks a lot.

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedsospecha
yosospecho
sospechas
ellos/ellas/ustedessospechan
nosotrossospechamos
vosotrossospecháis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedsospechaba
yosospechaba
sospechabas
ellos/ellas/ustedessospechaban
nosotrossospechábamos
vosotrossospechabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedsospechó
yosospeché
sospechaste
ellos/ellas/ustedessospecharon
nosotrossospechamos
vosotrossospechasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedsospeche
yosospeche
sospeches
ellos/ellas/ustedessospechen
nosotrossospechemos
vosotrossospechéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedsospechara
yosospechara
sospecharas
ellos/ellas/ustedessospecharan
nosotrossospecháramos
vosotrossospecharais

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "sospecha" in Spanish:

doubtinklingsuspicion

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: sospecha

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'sospecha' as a description of a feeling (a noun)?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
brechafecha
📚 Etymology

Comes from the Latin verb *suspectare*, meaning 'to look up at, to view with mistrust or doubt.'

First recorded: Medieval Spanish

Cognates (Related words)

English: suspectPortuguese: suspeita

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'sospecha' and 'sospechar'?

They are related! 'Sospecha' (feminine noun) is the feeling of doubt or mistrust itself. 'Sospechar' (verb) is the action of having that feeling. The word form 'sospecha' is also the conjugated verb form for 'he/she/it suspects' ('Él sospecha').

How do I say 'I am suspicious'?

You usually say 'Tengo una sospecha' (I have a suspicion) or 'Soy sospechoso/a' (I am a suspicious person/figure). You can also use the verb: 'Sospecho' (I suspect).