Inklingo

How to Say "accusation" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “accusation” is “acusación” — use 'acusación' when referring to the general act of stating that someone has done something wrong or illegal, without necessarily implying a formal legal charge..

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acusación

NounB1General
Use 'acusación' when referring to the general act of stating that someone has done something wrong or illegal, without necessarily implying a formal legal charge.

Examples

El director negó rotundamente la acusación de fraude.

The director flatly denied the accusation of fraud.

denuncia

deh-NOON-syah/deˈnun.sja/

NounB1Formal/Legal
Choose 'denuncia' when someone is formally reporting a crime or wrongdoing to the authorities, targeting a specific person or situation.
A storybook illustration showing a person standing and talking seriously to a police officer who is seated behind a desk, representing a formal report or complaint.

Examples

Pusimos una denuncia por el ruido constante de los vecinos.

We filed a complaint about the constant noise from the neighbors.

La víctima presentó una denuncia de acoso ante la policía.

The victim submitted a report of harassment to the police.

El periódico publicó una fuerte denuncia contra el fraude electoral.

The newspaper published a strong denunciation against electoral fraud.

Using the Right Verb

To say you 'file' or 'make' a formal report, Spanish speakers almost always use the verb 'poner' (to put) or 'presentar' (to present/submit), not 'hacer' (to make).

Confusing 'Denuncia' and 'Queja'

Mistake: “Usar 'queja' cuando se necesita un documento legal.”

Correction: 'Queja' is for general dissatisfaction (e.g., bad food). 'Denuncia' is for reporting a crime or violation to a formal authority.

cargo

/KAR-go//ˈkaɾɣo/

NounB2Formal/Legal
Use 'cargo' when referring to a formal charge, especially in a legal or official context, implying a specific allegation of an illegal act.
A close-up view of a hand placing a single, shiny gold coin onto a small pile of paper bills, symbolizing an additional financial charge.

Examples

El acusado enfrentó cargos de robo y agresión.

The accused faced charges of theft and assault.

El hotel aplicó un cargo adicional por el servicio de habitación.

The hotel applied an additional charge for room service.

El fiscal presentó tres cargos contra el acusado.

The prosecutor filed three charges against the defendant.

¿Quién está a cargo de este proyecto?

Who is in charge of this project?

The Useful Phrase 'a cargo de'

This phrase is a super common way to say who is responsible for something. It's followed by the person or group in charge. Example: 'La organización del evento está a cargo de María.' (María is in charge of organizing the event.)

dedo

DEH-doh/ˈdeðo/

NounB1Informal/Idiomatic
Use 'dedo' specifically within the idiomatic phrase 'señalar con el dedo' which means to blame or point fingers at someone.
A clear glass standing on a flat surface, containing only a very shallow, thin layer of blue liquid at the bottom, representing a small quantity.

Examples

No tengo dos dedos de frente si hice esa tontería.

I must not have a lick of sense if I did that stupid thing.

Le echamos solo un dedo de aceite al guiso.

We only added a splash/tiny bit of oil to the stew.

Dedo as a Small Measure

When used in cooking or drinking contexts, un dedo literally means the amount that comes up to the height of a finger, indicating a small, imprecise measure.

Choosing between 'acusación' and 'denuncia'

Learners often confuse 'acusación' and 'denuncia'. Remember that 'acusación' is a general statement of wrongdoing, while 'denuncia' implies a formal report to authorities, often with legal consequences.

Related Translations

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