How to Say "law" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “law” is “ley” — use 'ley' when referring to a specific, official rule or statute created by a government, or a fundamental principle governing nature or science..
ley
/ley//ˈlei̯/
Examples
Todos los ciudadanos deben obedecer la ley.
All citizens must obey the law.
El congreso aprobó una nueva ley para proteger el medio ambiente.
The congress passed a new law to protect the environment.
Romper la ley puede tener consecuencias serias.
Breaking the law can have serious consequences.
La ley de la gravedad es un principio fundamental de la física.
The law of gravity is a fundamental principle of physics.
Always Feminine: 'la ley'
Even though 'ley' doesn't end in '-a', it's a feminine word. Always use 'la' or 'una' with it, like 'la ley' (the law) or 'una ley importante' (an important law).
Making it Plural: 'leyes'
To talk about more than one law, 'ley' becomes 'leyes'. The 'y' changes to an 'i' before adding '-es'. This happens with other words ending in '-y' too, like 'rey' (king) which becomes 'reyes' (kings).
Confusing 'ley' and 'derecho'
Mistake: “Estudio la ley en la universidad.”
Correction: Estudio derecho en la universidad. 'Ley' refers to a specific, single rule or statute. 'Derecho' refers to the entire field of law as a subject of study, or a right that someone has.
derecho
/deh-REH-choh//deˈɾe.t͡ʃo/
Examples
Mi hermana estudia Derecho en la universidad.
My sister studies Law at the university.
El derecho romano es la base de muchos sistemas legales.
Roman law is the basis for many legal systems.
'Derecho' vs. 'Ley'
Mistake: “Using 'ley' to talk about the subject of Law.”
Correction: Use 'Derecho' (often capitalized) for the field of study or the entire legal system ('I study Law'). Use 'ley' for a specific rule or piece of legislation ('There's a new law about taxes').
Ley vs. Derecho: The Main Confusion
Related Translations
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