How to Say "formal complaint" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “formal complaint” is “querella” — B2 level.
Examples
El abogado presentó una querella criminal contra la empresa.
The lawyer filed a formal criminal complaint against the company.
La querella fue admitida a trámite por el juez.
The formal complaint was accepted for processing by the judge.
Decidieron retirar la querella tras llegar a un acuerdo.
They decided to withdraw the lawsuit after reaching an agreement.
Always Feminine
Even though it ends in 'a', it's worth remembering that 'querella' is always a feminine noun. You must use feminine adjectives with it, like 'una querella formal'.
Action Verbs with Querella
In Spanish, you don't 'make' a querella; you 'present' (presentar) or 'place' (interponer) it. Think of it as officially handing over a document to the court.
Querella vs. Queja
Mistake: “Usar 'querella' para quejarse de la comida en un restaurante.”
Correction: Use 'queja' or 'reclamación' for everyday complaints. Use 'querella' only when a judge and lawyers are involved.
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