Inklingo

How to Say "judge" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “judge” is “juez” — use 'juez' for the legal official who presides over a court and makes legal decisions, or for a person evaluating performances in artistic or competitive events like diving or cooking shows.

English → Spanish

juez

hwehs/xweθ/ (Spain) or /xwɛs/ (Americas)

nounB1formal
Use 'juez' for the legal official who presides over a court and makes legal decisions, or for a person evaluating performances in artistic or competitive events like diving or cooking shows.
A serious person wearing a black robe sitting behind a large wooden bench in a simplified courtroom setting, holding a wooden gavel in one hand, symbolizing a legal official.

Examples

El juez dictó sentencia después de escuchar todas las pruebas.

The judge handed down the sentence after hearing all the evidence.

Necesitamos un juez imparcial para resolver este conflicto.

We need an impartial judge to resolve this conflict.

Mi hermana quiere estudiar derecho para ser jueza en el futuro.

My sister wants to study law to be a judge in the future.

Los jueces de patinaje le dieron una puntuación perfecta.

The skating judges gave him a perfect score.

Masculine vs. Feminine

This word is the standard form for a male judge. If you are referring to a female judge, the preferred and most common form is 'la jueza'.

Using the Plural

To talk about more than one judge, you just add '-ces' to the end: 'jueces'. The stress stays on the 'e'.

Using 'Juez' for Sports Referees

Mistake: “Using 'juez' when referring to a soccer referee.”

Correction: While sometimes accurate in a general sense, the specific term for a referee in sports like soccer or basketball is usually 'árbitro'.

jurado

hoo-RAH-dohxuˈɾa.ðo

nounB2formal
Use 'jurado' when referring to one of the individuals in a group who collectively decide the verdict in a legal trial or the winner in certain competitions.
A close-up illustration of a single person sitting alone at a small desk, appearing deep in thought, representing an individual juror.

Examples

Cada jurado debe mantener la imparcialidad.

Each juror must maintain impartiality.

Yo fui jurado en un concurso de pastelería el año pasado.

I was a judge in a baking contest last year.

Gender and Person

If you are talking about a female juror, you can say 'la jurado' or 'la miembro del jurado', depending on local preference, although the official title is generally masculine because the original noun 'el jurado' is masculine.

árbitro

nounB2formal
Use 'árbitro' primarily for a sports official who enforces the rules, but also figuratively for someone appointed to settle disputes or make decisions in a contractual or business context.

Examples

Las empresas nombraron a un árbitro para resolver el contrato.

The companies appointed an arbitrator to resolve the contract.

Juez vs. Jurado

Learners often confuse 'juez' and 'jurado'. Remember that 'juez' is the single official in charge (like in a courtroom or a talent show), while 'jurado' refers to a group of people making a collective decision, especially in legal trials or some competitions.

Related Translations

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