How to Say "espionage" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “espionage” is “espionaje” — use 'espionaje' when referring to the act of spying itself, spy movies, or the general concept of espionage in a formal or political setting.
espionaje
ess-pyoh-NAH-hehespjoˈnaxe
Examples
Vimos una película de espionaje anoche.
We watched a spy movie last night.
El gobierno fue acusado de espionaje.
The government was accused of spying.
El espionaje industrial es un gran problema para las empresas tecnológicas.
Industrial espionage is a big problem for tech companies.
The '-aje' Rule
In Spanish, words that end in '-aje' are almost always masculine. This means you should use 'el' or 'un' (e.g., el espionaje, un viaje).
The 'J' Sound
The 'j' in 'espionaje' is pronounced like a strong, breathy 'h' sound. Imagine you are fogging up a pair of glasses.
Ending Confusion
Mistake: “el espionage”
Correction: el espionaje. While English uses '-age', Spanish always uses '-aje' for this sound.
inteligencia
in-te-li-HÉN-syain.te.liˈxen.sja
Examples
El departamento de inteligencia descubrió la conspiración.
The intelligence department discovered the conspiracy.
Necesitamos más inteligencia sobre la ubicación del enemigo.
We need more intelligence (secret information) about the enemy's location.
Context is Key
When you see 'inteligencia' used with words like 'agencia' (agency) or 'servicios' (services), it almost always refers to government spying or secret data, not just general smartness.
Espionaje vs. Inteligencia
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.