Inklingo

How to Say "guilty" in Spanish

English → Spanish

culpable

kool-PAH-blehkulˈpable

adjectiveA2formal
Use 'culpable' when referring to legal or moral responsibility, especially in formal contexts like court proceedings.
A simple cartoon figure standing alone, looking down with a deeply ashamed and guilty expression, with shoulders slumped.

Examples

El jurado lo declaró culpable después de dos horas de deliberación.

The jury declared him guilty after two hours of deliberation.

Me siento culpable por haberme comido todo el pastel.

I feel guilty for having eaten the whole cake.

Si no estudias, serás culpable de tu propio fracaso.

If you don't study, you will be responsible for your own failure.

Gender is Easy

Unlike many Spanish adjectives, 'culpable' does not change its ending to match masculine or feminine nouns. You use 'el hombre culpable' and 'la mujer culpable'.

Connecting the Blame

Mistake: “Soy culpable para el error. (Incorrect use of 'para')”

Correction: Soy culpable del error. (The word needs the preposition 'de' when you specify what the guilt is about. 'De' + 'el' becomes 'del'.)

reo

REH-ohˈreo

adjectiveC1formal
Use 'reo' when someone is blameworthy for a specific action or consequence, often implying they are the cause of their own misfortune.
A person standing with their head hung low and hands behind their back, looking ashamed while a spotlight shines on them.

Examples

Él es reo de sus propias palabras.

He is guilty of his own words.

Se sentía reo de un pecado antiguo.

He felt guilty of an old sin.

Adjective Agreement

As a description, it must match the person. 'Él es reo' vs 'Ella es rea'.

Culbable vs. Reo

Learners often confuse 'culpable' and 'reo'. Remember that 'culpable' is the general term for being found legally or morally responsible. 'Reo' is more specific, indicating someone is blameworthy for a particular act, often with a sense of self-inflicted consequence.

Related Translations

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