How to Say "justice" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “justice” is “justicia” — use 'justicia' when referring to the general concept of fairness, moral rightness, or the quality of being just..
justicia
/hoos-TEE-sya//xusˈti.sja/
Examples
Todos merecen recibir un trato con justicia, sin importar quiénes sean.
Everyone deserves to receive treatment with fairness, regardless of who they are.
Luchamos por la justicia social en nuestro barrio.
We fight for social justice in our neighborhood.
Always Feminine
Even though this word ends in '-a', it is a feminine noun, so you always use the feminine articles: 'la justicia' or 'una justicia'.
magistrado
/mah-hees-TRAH-doh//maxisˈtɾaðo/
Examples
El magistrado dictó una sentencia histórica sobre los derechos civiles.
The magistrate handed down a landmark ruling on civil rights.
Para ser magistrado del Tribunal Supremo, se requiere mucha experiencia.
To be a Supreme Court justice, a lot of experience is required.
Vimos al magistrado entrar en el palacio de justicia esta mañana.
We saw the magistrate enter the courthouse this morning.
Using 'A' with People
When a magistrate is the person receiving the action in a sentence (the object), you must use the word 'a' before it. For example: 'Llamaron a un magistrado' (They called a magistrate).
Magistrado vs. Juez
While both work in law, a 'magistrado' is usually higher-ranking than a standard 'juez' and typically works in superior or collective courts.
Lower Court Confusion
Mistake: “Using 'magistrado' for a local neighborhood judge.”
Correction: Use 'juez' for lower courts; 'magistrado' is reserved for higher-level judicial officers.
Gender Matching
Mistake: “La magistrado.”
Correction: While the role is 'magistrado', if the person is a woman, you must use the feminine article and ending: 'la magistrada'.
Concept vs. Person
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.