sospecha
/soh-SPEH-chah/
suspicion
When you have a feeling that something is wrong, you have sospecha (suspicion).
sospecha(noun)
suspicion
?a feeling that something is wrong
doubt
?mistrust
,inkling
?a slight indication
📝 In Action
La policía actuó bajo la sospecha de fraude.
B1The police acted under the suspicion of fraud.
No tengo ninguna sospecha sobre su honestidad.
A2I don't have any suspicion about his honesty.
Su comportamiento levantó muchas sospechas.
B2His behavior raised a lot of suspicions.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Tener'
To express that you feel suspicious, Spanish uses the verb 'tener' (to have): 'Tengo una sospecha' (I have a suspicion).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Ser' or 'Estar'
Mistake: "Soy sospecha / Estoy sospecha"
Correction: Use 'Tener una sospecha' (I have a suspicion) or 'Tener sospechas' (I have suspicions).
⭐ Usage Tips
Plural Form
Using the plural 'sospechas' often refers to multiple specific doubts or reasons for mistrust.
If he thinks someone committed an action, él sospecha (he suspects).
sospecha(verb)
he/she/it suspects
?present tense action
(you formal) suspect
?Usted form, present tense
📝 In Action
Ella sospecha que su vecino sabe la verdad.
A2She suspects that her neighbor knows the truth.
¿Usted sospecha que hubo un error en el cálculo?
B1Do you (formal) suspect that there was an error in the calculation?
Si el perro sospecha algo, ladra mucho.
A2If the dog suspects something, it barks a lot.
💡 Grammar Points
Regular -AR Verb
'Sospechar' follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ar, making it easy to conjugate once you know the basic endings.
⭐ Usage Tips
Followed by 'Que'
When you suspect something specific, you often follow the verb with 'que' (that): 'Sospecho que me miente' (I suspect that he is lying to me).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sospecha
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'sospecha' as a description of a feeling (a noun)?
📚 More Resources
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).