Inklingo

How to Say "offense" in Spanish

English → Spanish

insulto

een-SOOL-toh/inˈsulto/

nounA2general
Use 'insulto' when 'offense' refers to something said or done that is rude, disrespectful, or hurtful to someone's feelings.
A person with a mean expression pointing their finger and shouting angrily at another person.

Examples

Sus palabras fueron un grave insulto a mi inteligencia.

His words were a serious offense to my intelligence.

Él me lanzó un insulto muy feo.

He threw a very ugly insult at me.

No tolero ningún tipo de insulto en mi casa.

I don't tolerate any kind of insult in my house.

Gender of 'insulto'

This is a masculine 'naming word' (noun), so you always use 'el' or 'un' with it: 'el insulto'.

Using the wrong action word

Mistake: “Hacer un insulto.”

Correction: Decir or proferir un insulto.

delito

deh-LEE-toh/deˈlito/

nounB2legal, formal
Use 'delito' for a more formal or legal term for a crime or illegal act, often implying a more serious violation than 'crimen'.
A close-up view of a pair of simple, shiny silver handcuffs resting on a brightly colored surface.

Examples

El robo es un delito castigado por la ley.

Robbery is an offense punishable by law.

Cometer un delito grave puede resultar en prisión.

Committing a serious crime can result in prison.

El robo es un delito contra la propiedad privada.

Theft is an offense against private property.

La policía investiga si hubo un delito de fraude fiscal.

The police are investigating whether there was a crime of tax fraud.

Using 'Cometer'

To talk about performing a crime, you almost always use the verb 'cometer' (to commit): 'Cometió un delito' (He committed a crime).

Delito vs. Culpa

Mistake: “Using 'culpa' when you mean 'crime'.”

Correction: 'Delito' is the illegal act itself, while 'culpa' means 'fault' or 'guilt' (the feeling or attribution of responsibility). Say 'Fue un delito' (It was a crime), not 'Fue una culpa'.

crimen

/KREE-men//ˈkɾimen/

nounB1general, legal
Use 'crimen' to refer to a specific illegal act, especially a serious one, often focusing on the act itself rather than the legal classification.
A masked figure sneaking away from a large, stylized house, carrying a small sack of stolen goods, representing a serious illegal act.

Examples

La policía descubrió evidencia del crimen en la casa.

The police discovered evidence of the crime at the house.

La policía está investigando la escena del crimen.

The police are investigating the crime scene.

El robo a mano armada es un crimen muy grave.

Armed robbery is a very serious crime.

Fue condenado por un crimen que no cometió.

He was convicted of a crime he did not commit.

Always Masculine: 'el crimen'

Even though it doesn't end in -o, 'crimen' is a masculine word. Always say 'el crimen' or 'un crimen'. This is common for many words ending in -en or -men that come from older languages, like 'el examen' (the exam).

'Crimen' vs. 'Delito'

Mistake: “Usar 'crimen' para un robo de tienda. (Using 'crimen' for shoplifting.)”

Correction: En español, 'crimen' se usa para algo muy serio, como un asesinato. Para ofensas menores, como robar en una tienda, la palabra 'delito' es mucho más común. Piensa en 'crimen' como 'felony' y 'delito' como un término más general para cualquier 'offense'.

Legal vs. Personal Offense

The most common mistake is using 'insulto' for legal offenses or using 'crimen'/'delito' for personal affronts. Remember: 'insulto' is about hurting feelings, while 'crimen' and 'delito' refer to breaking the law.

Related Translations

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