How to Say "suspicious" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “suspicious” is “sospechoso” — use this word when referring to an object, situation, or person that appears potentially guilty, dangerous, or questionable, often implying a need for investigation..
sospechoso
soh-speh-CHOH-soh/sospeˈtʃoso/
Examples
El comportamiento del sospechoso levantó banderas rojas.
The suspect's behavior raised red flags.
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.'
paranoico
/pah-rah-NOY-ko//paɾaˈnoiko/
Examples
Tenía una actitud paranoica hacia sus compañeros de trabajo.
He had a paranoid attitude towards his coworkers.
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.
Distinguishing 'Sospechoso' from 'Paranoico'
Related Translations
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