Inklingo

How to Say "felony" in Spanish

English → Spanish

crimen

/KREE-men//ˈkɾimen/

nounB1general
Use 'crimen' when referring to a very serious crime, often one that is shocking or violent, or when discussing the general concept of a serious offense.
A masked figure sneaking away from a large, stylized house, carrying a small sack of stolen goods, representing a serious illegal act.

Examples

La policía está investigando la escena del crimen.

The police are investigating the crime scene.

El robo a mano armada es un crimen muy grave.

Armed robbery is a very serious crime.

Fue condenado por un crimen que no cometió.

He was convicted of a crime he did not commit.

Always Masculine: 'el crimen'

Even though it doesn't end in -o, 'crimen' is a masculine word. Always say 'el crimen' or 'un crimen'. This is common for many words ending in -en or -men that come from older languages, like 'el examen' (the exam).

'Crimen' vs. 'Delito'

Mistake: “Usar 'crimen' para un robo de tienda. (Using 'crimen' for shoplifting.)”

Correction: En español, 'crimen' se usa para algo muy serio, como un asesinato. Para ofensas menores, como robar en una tienda, la palabra 'delito' es mucho más común. Piensa en 'crimen' como 'felony' y 'delito' como un término más general para cualquier 'offense'.

delito

deh-LEE-toh/deˈlito/

nounB2legal
Choose 'delito' when referring to a specific punishable offense or crime within a legal framework, especially a more severe one that carries legal consequences like imprisonment.
A close-up view of a pair of simple, shiny silver handcuffs resting on a brightly colored surface.

Examples

Cometer un delito grave puede resultar en prisión.

Committing a serious crime can result in prison.

El robo es un delito contra la propiedad privada.

Theft is an offense against private property.

La policía investiga si hubo un delito de fraude fiscal.

The police are investigating whether there was a crime of tax fraud.

Using 'Cometer'

To talk about performing a crime, you almost always use the verb 'cometer' (to commit): 'Cometió un delito' (He committed a crime).

Delito vs. Culpa

Mistake: “Using 'culpa' when you mean 'crime'.”

Correction: 'Delito' is the illegal act itself, while 'culpa' means 'fault' or 'guilt' (the feeling or attribution of responsibility). Say 'Fue un delito' (It was a crime), not 'Fue una culpa'.

Crimen vs. Delito

Learners often use 'crimen' for any serious offense, but 'delito' is more precise when referring to a specific, legally defined crime. While 'crimen' can sometimes be used generally for a grave crime, 'delito' is the more technical legal term for a punishable offense.

Related Translations

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