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How to Say "suspect" in Spanish

English → Spanish

sospechoso

soh-speh-CHOH-soh/sospeˈtʃoso/

nounB2general
Use 'sospechoso' for a general person believed to be involved in a crime, often used by police or in news reports.
A solitary, nervous person standing in an empty room, hands clasped tightly, visualized as the subject of an investigation.

Examples

La policía interrogó a tres sospechosos después del robo.

The police questioned three suspects after the robbery.

El principal sospechoso fue detenido anoche.

The main suspect was arrested last night.

Ella es la sospechosa en este caso de fraude.

She is the suspect in this fraud case.

Noun Gender

When used as a noun meaning 'suspect,' this word changes gender like an adjective: 'el sospechoso' (male suspect) and 'la sospechosa' (female suspect).

Confusing Noun and Adjective

Mistake: “Using 'sospecho' when referring to a person.”

Correction: The word for the person is always 'sospechoso' (or 'sospechosa'). 'Sospecho' is the 'yo' form of the verb 'sospechar' (I suspect).

investigado

/een-bes-tee-GAH-doh//inbestiˈɣaðo/

nounB2formal, legal
Use 'investigado' in a formal legal or judicial setting to refer to a person who is officially under investigation for a crime.
A person in a trench coat standing in a bright spotlight.

Examples

El investigado se negó a declarar ante el tribunal.

The suspect refused to testify before the court.

Los derechos del investigado deben ser respetados.

The rights of the person under investigation must be respected.

Turning a Descriptor into a Person

In Spanish, you can often put 'el' or 'la' in front of a word like this to turn it from a description into a noun (the person who is...).

sujeto

soo-HEH-toh/suˈxeto/

nounA2police/investigative
Use 'sujeto' for an individual, often unidentified, who is acting suspiciously or is the focus of police attention, without necessarily implying formal accusation.
A simple illustration of a casually dressed man with a friendly expression standing and looking forward.

Examples

Vimos a un sujeto sospechoso cerca de la tienda.

We saw a suspicious individual near the store.

Ese sujeto siempre llega tarde a las reuniones.

That guy always arrives late to the meetings.

La policía está buscando a un sujeto de 40 años.

The police are looking for a 40-year-old suspect.

Formal vs. General Suspect

The most common mistake is using the general term 'sospechoso' when the situation calls for the more formal legal term 'investigado'. Remember, 'investigado' implies an official, ongoing legal process, while 'sospechoso' is a broader term for someone believed to be involved.

Related Translations

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