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How to Say "legal case" in Spanish

English → Spanish

pleito

PLAY-tohˈplei.to

nounB1official court proceeding
Use 'pleito' when referring to the actual court proceeding or dispute that is being officially handled by a judge or jury.
A wooden judge's gavel resting on a solid block against a clean background.

Examples

El abogado logró ganar el pleito después de dos años.

The lawyer managed to win the lawsuit after two years.

Tienen un pleito pendiente por la herencia familiar.

They have a pending legal case regarding the family inheritance.

No quiero meterme en pleitos legales.

I don't want to get involved in legal battles.

A Masculine Noun

Pleito is always masculine. You must use 'el', 'un', 'este', or 'ese' with it.

Lawsuit vs. Law

Mistake: “Estudio el pleito en la universidad.”

Correction: Estudio derecho en la universidad.

proceso

proh-SEH-sohpɾoˈse.so

nounB2lawsuit
Use 'proceso' to describe the entire lawsuit as a legal event or procedure, often emphasizing its duration and complexity.
A close-up illustration of a wooden judge's gavel resting on its sound block, symbolizing a legal trial.

Examples

El abogado dijo que el proceso será largo y complicado.

The lawyer said the trial will be long and complicated.

La prensa estaba siguiendo de cerca el proceso judicial.

The press was closely following the legal case.

Context is Key

When you see 'proceso' alongside words like 'juez' (judge) or 'abogado' (lawyer), you know it means 'trial' or 'legal case,' not just 'steps'.

Pleito vs. Proceso

Learners often confuse 'pleito' and 'proceso' by using them interchangeably. Remember that 'pleito' focuses on the specific dispute or court battle, while 'proceso' refers to the broader legal procedure or lawsuit.

Related Translations

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