How to Say "felonious" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “felonious” is “criminales” — use 'criminales' for general descriptions of actions, activities, or behavior that are against the law and considered crimes. It's the most common and versatile translation.
criminales
kree-mee-NAH-leskɾimiˈnales
Examples
Las actividades criminales deben ser erradicadas.
Criminal activities must be eradicated.
El abogado estudió las leyes criminales del país.
The lawyer studied the country's criminal laws.
Adjective Agreement
When used as a describing word (adjective), 'criminales' must match the thing it describes. Since 'criminales' is plural, the thing it describes must also be plural (e.g., 'actividades' or 'códigos').
Using the Singular Form
Mistake: “Las actividades criminal (missing the plural 'es')”
Correction: Make sure the adjective matches the noun: 'Las actividades criminales'.
delictivo
deh-leek-TEE-bohde.likˈti.βo
Examples
La policía está investigando una nueva banda delictiva.
The police are investigating a new criminal gang.
El acusado no tenía ningún antecedente delictivo.
The accused had no criminal record.
Es necesario prevenir el comportamiento delictivo en los jóvenes.
It is necessary to prevent criminal behavior in young people.
Matching Gender
This word must match the noun it describes. Use 'delictivo' for masculine words like 'acto' and 'delictiva' for feminine words like 'actividad'.
Placement after the Noun
In Spanish, describing words like 'delictivo' almost always come after the object they are describing (e.g., 'el grupo delictivo').
Using it for People
Mistake: “Ese hombre es delictivo.”
Correction: Ese hombre es un delincuente.
Criminales vs. Delictivo
Related Translations
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