Inklingo

How to Say "suspicious" in Spanish

English → Spanish

sospechoso

soh-speh-CHOH-sohsospeˈtʃoso

adjectiveB1general
Use this when something seems wrong, potentially illegal, or likely to be guilty, like an object or a person acting strangely.
A person partially hidden behind a green bush, looking out with an expression of doubt and suspicion.

Examples

Encontraron un paquete sospechoso debajo de la mesa.

They found a suspicious package under the table.

Su comportamiento era muy sospechoso cuando le preguntamos por el dinero.

His behavior was very suspicious when we asked him about the money.

Me parece sospechosa esa oferta de trabajo; pagan demasiado.

That job offer seems doubtful to me; they pay too much.

Matching Endings

As an adjective, 'sospechoso' must change its ending to match the thing it describes. For a feminine noun like 'persona,' you must say 'persona sospechosa.'

dudoso

doo-DOH-sohduˈðoso

adjectiveB2general
Choose this when something appears untrustworthy, questionable, or of uncertain quality, often referring to reputation or origin.
A shady character wearing a dark trench coat and a hat pulled low, hiding a mysterious box behind their back.

Examples

Ese negocio tiene una reputación dudosa.

That business has a questionable reputation.

Compró carne de origen dudoso en el mercado.

He bought meat of suspicious origin at the market.

No confío en él, tiene un pasado dudoso.

I don't trust him; he has a shady past.

Using 'de' for origin

To say something comes from a shady place, use the phrase 'de procedencia dudosa' or 'de origen dudoso'.

Dudoso vs. Sospechoso

Mistake: “Using 'dudoso' for a person acting weirdly in the street.”

Correction: Use 'sospechoso' for a person behaving strangely, and 'dudoso' for the quality of their character or the thing they are doing.

paranoico

pah-rah-NOY-kopaɾaˈnoiko

adjectiveB2general
Use this to describe someone who is excessively distrustful of others' intentions, often unreasonably so.
A nervous character peeking through closed window blinds into a quiet street.

Examples

No seas tan paranoico, solo fue una coincidencia.

Don't be so paranoid; it was just a coincidence.

Él está paranoico con la seguridad de su casa.

He is paranoid about his house security.

Matching the Person

Since this word ends in -o, it is used for men. If you are describing a woman, the ending changes to -a (paranoica).

Using 'estar' vs 'ser'

Mistake: “Using 'ser' for a temporary feeling.”

Correction: Use 'estar' (to be) if the person is acting paranoid right now, and 'ser' if it's their permanent personality.

Sospechoso vs. Dudoso

Learners often confuse 'sospechoso' and 'dudoso'. Remember, 'sospechoso' relates to guilt or wrongdoing (like a crime), while 'dudoso' relates to uncertainty or lack of trustworthiness (like a shady deal).

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.