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How to Say "police officer" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “police officer” is “policía” — use 'policía' to refer to a male or female police officer, or to the police force in general. This is the most common and versatile term..

English → Spanish

policía

nounA1general
Use 'policía' to refer to a male or female police officer, or to the police force in general. This is the most common and versatile term.

Examples

La policía detuvo al ladrón.

The police arrested the thief.

poli

/POH-lee//ˈpoli/

nounA2informal
Use 'poli' as a casual, informal, and shortened term for a police officer, similar to 'cop' in English. Avoid in formal contexts.
A friendly cartoon police officer wearing a blue uniform and hat, standing and smiling.

Examples

¡Cuidado! Hay un poli en la esquina vigilando la velocidad.

Careful! There's a cop on the corner watching the speed.

Llamamos al poli después del accidente, pero tardaron en llegar.

We called the police after the accident, but they were late arriving.

Mi primo quiere ser poli cuando termine sus estudios.

My cousin wants to be a police officer when he finishes his studies.

Shortened Noun

This word is a 'clipping' of policía. It functions just like the full word but is used only in casual settings.

Formality Mismatch

Mistake: “Usando 'poli' en un informe oficial.”

Correction: Use *policía* or *agente* in formal writing or professional contexts, as *poli* is too casual.

Formal vs. Informal Usage

The most common mistake is using the informal 'poli' in situations that require a more formal term. Always default to 'policía' unless you are in a very casual setting or specifically want to sound informal.

Related Translations

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