How to Say "to interrogate" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to interrogate” is “interrogar” — use 'interrogar' when referring to formal questioning, especially by authorities like the police or in a legal context.
Use 'interrogar' when referring to formal questioning, especially by authorities like the police or in a legal context.
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Use 'cuestionar' for a more general act of asking many detailed questions, such as in an interview, debate, or a thorough discussion.
Learn more →een-teh-rro-GAHRinteroˈɣaɾ
Examples
La policía decidió interrogar al sospechoso durante tres horas.
The police decided to interrogate the suspect for three hours.
El abogado va a interrogar a los testigos mañana.
The lawyer is going to question the witnesses tomorrow.
The 'GU' Spelling Change
When 'interrogar' is followed by an 'e' sound (like in the first-person past tense 'yo interrogue'), we add a 'u' after the 'g' to keep the hard 'g' sound, like in 'game'.
Interrogar vs. Preguntar
Mistake: “Using 'interrogar' for simple questions like 'What time is it?'”
Correction: Use 'preguntar' for everyday questions and 'interrogar' only for formal or serious questioning.
kwes-tyoh-nahrkwestjoˈnaɾ
Examples
El abogado cuestionó al testigo durante toda la tarde.
The lawyer questioned the witness all afternoon.
La policía está cuestionando a los vecinos para encontrar pistas.
The police are questioning the neighbors to find clues.
Direct Objects
When questioning a person in this sense, remember to use 'a' before the person: 'Cuestionaron a los testigos' (They questioned the witnesses).
Interrogar vs. Cuestionar
Learners often confuse 'interrogar' and 'cuestionar'. Remember that 'interrogar' is primarily for official, often confrontational, questioning by police or in court. 'Cuestionar' is broader and can mean to challenge or ask many questions in less official settings.
Related Translations
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