How to Say "police record" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “police record” is “antecedentes” — use 'antecedentes' when referring to an official document that lists a person's criminal history, often required for employment or legal processes.
antecedentes
an-teh-seh-DEN-tes/an.te.θeˈðen.tes/ (Spain) /an.te.seˈðen.tes/ (LatAm)
Examples
Para solicitar la visa, necesito presentar un certificado de antecedentes penales.
To apply for the visa, I need to present a criminal record certificate.
Necesitas un certificado de antecedentes penales para el puesto.
You need a certificate of criminal record for the position.
El sospechoso tiene antecedentes por robo.
The suspect has a record for theft.
The 'Penales' Noun
When talking about legal records, the full phrase 'antecedentes penales' (criminal background) is the most common way to say 'criminal record.'
ficha
FEE-chahˈfitʃa
Examples
La policía le pidió que rellenara una ficha con sus datos después del incidente.
The police asked him to fill out a form with his details after the incident.
Rellena esta ficha con tus datos personales.
Fill out this form with your personal details.
Mira la ficha técnica del coche antes de comprarlo.
Look at the spec sheet of the car before buying it.
El bibliotecario buscó la ficha del libro.
The librarian looked for the book's index card.
Fixed Phrases
When talking about specs or facts, we almost always use 'ficha técnica'. It behaves like a single word for 'fact sheet'.
Ficha vs. Archivo
Mistake: “Saying 'ficha' for a computer file.”
Correction: Use 'archivo' for a digital document on your computer. Use 'ficha' for the specific data profile or card within a system.
Antecedentes vs. Ficha
Related Translations
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