How to Say "illicit" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “illicit” is “ilegal” — use 'ilegal' when referring to something that is against the law, like illegal goods, activities, or entry.
ilegal
ee-leh-GAHLi.leˈɣal
Examples
Fumar en este edificio es completamente ilegal.
Smoking in this building is completely illegal.
La venta de ese producto se declaró ilegal.
The sale of that product was declared unlawful.
Cometió un acto ilegal al robar el coche.
He committed an illegal act by stealing the car.
Agreement is Key
Like many Spanish adjectives, 'ilegal' must match the number of the noun it describes (e.g., 'prácticas ilegales'). Luckily, it stays the same for masculine and feminine nouns because it ends in '-l' (e.g., 'el acto ilegal,' 'la acción ilegal').
Always Appears After the Noun
In Spanish, descriptive adjectives like 'ilegal' almost always come after the noun they modify: 'una práctica ilegal', not 'una ilegal práctica'.
Forgetting the Plural
Mistake: “Muchos actos ilegal.”
Correction: Muchos actos ilegales. (The adjective must end in '-es' when describing plural nouns.)
ilícito
ee-LEE-see-tohiˈli.si.to
Examples
El tráfico ilícito de animales es un crimen grave.
The illegal wildlife trade is a serious crime.
Obtuvo su fortuna de manera ilícita.
He obtained his fortune in an unlawful way.
Las autoridades cerraron el casino por actividades ilícitas.
The authorities closed the casino due to illegal activities.
Adjective Agreement
This word changes its ending to match what it describes. Use 'ilícito' for masculine things and 'ilícita' for feminine things.
Placement for Emphasis
Usually, 'ilícito' comes after the noun (e.g., 'negocio ilícito'). Placing it before the noun is rare and makes the sentence sound very poetic or dramatic.
Confusing with 'Ilegal'
Mistake: “Using 'ilícito' in casual conversation with friends.”
Correction: Use 'ilegal' for everyday talk. 'Ilícito' is better for formal writing or when talking about official rules.
piratas
pee-RAH-taspiˈɾatas
Examples
Las películas piratas se venden en la calle a un precio muy bajo.
Pirated movies are sold on the street at a very low price.
Debemos evitar descargar software piratas, ya que pueden contener virus.
We must avoid downloading pirated software, as it might contain viruses.
Adjective Agreement
As an adjective, 'piratas' must match the gender and number of the noun it describes. For example, 'juegos piratas' (masculine plural) or 'canciones piratas' (feminine plural).
Ilegal vs. Ilícito
Related Translations
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