Inklingo

How to Say "suspicion" in Spanish

English → Spanish

sospecha

soh-SPEH-chah/sosˈpetʃa/

nounB1
Use 'sospecha' when referring to a specific feeling or belief that something is wrong, illegal, or incorrect, often in a formal or investigative context.
A small, wide-eyed cartoon mouse hiding behind a large piece of cheese, peering nervously at a dark shadow approaching from the side, illustrating a feeling of suspicion.

Examples

La policía actuó bajo la sospecha de fraude.

The police acted under the suspicion of fraud.

No tengo ninguna sospecha sobre su honestidad.

I don't have any suspicion about his honesty.

Su comportamiento levantó muchas sospechas.

His behavior raised a lot of suspicions.

Using 'Tener'

To express that you feel suspicious, Spanish uses the verb 'tener' (to have): 'Tengo una sospecha' (I have a suspicion).

Using 'Ser' or 'Estar'

Mistake: “Soy sospecha / Estoy sospecha”

Correction: Use 'Tener una sospecha' (I have a suspicion) or 'Tener sospechas' (I have suspicions).

moscas

/MO-skahs//ˈmoskas/

nounB1idiomatic
Use 'moscas' only within the fixed idiom 'tener la mosca detrás de la oreja' to express a feeling of unease, doubt, or a vague sense that something might go wrong, prompting caution.
A small child sitting safely on a soft, colorful rug, wearing a brightly colored, oversized safety helmet and knee pads, demonstrating extreme precaution.

Examples

Lleva un paraguas, por si las moscas.

Take an umbrella, just in case (literally: 'for if the flies').

Parece que tiene la mosca detrás de la oreja con ese negocio.

It seems he is suspicious about that deal (literally: 'he has the fly behind his ear').

Fixed Phrases

These phrases are fixed and cannot be changed. For example, 'por si las moscas' always uses the plural 'moscas' and cannot be changed to 'por si la mosca'.

Confusing 'sospecha' with 'moscas'

Learners often mistakenly try to use 'moscas' outside of its specific idiom 'tener la mosca detrás de la oreja'. Remember that 'moscas' is not a general translation for suspicion; it's an idiomatic expression for caution or a vague sense of unease.

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