Inklingo

How to Say "to judge" in Spanish

English → Spanish

juzgar

hooz-GAR/xuzˈɣaɾ/

verbA2general
Use 'juzgar' when you mean to form an opinion about someone or something, or to decide a legal case.
A thoughtful person holding a red apple in one hand and a green apple in the other, looking intently at them as if evaluating their quality.

Examples

No debes juzgar un libro por su portada.

You shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

¿Quién eres tú para juzgar mi decisión?

Who are you to judge my decision?

Ella juzga a los demás con mucha dureza.

She judges others very harshly.

El tribunal juzgará el caso la próxima semana.

The court will judge the case next week.

The '-gar' Spelling Change

When conjugating 'juzgar,' the 'g' changes to 'gu' before an 'e' sound. This happens in the 'yo' form of the past tense (juzgué) and across the entire present subjunctive (juzgue, juzgues, etc.).

The Passive Voice

In legal contexts, 'juzgar' is often used in the passive voice to describe the defendant: 'El acusado fue juzgado' (The defendant was judged/tried).

Missing the 'u'

Mistake: “Using *juzge* instead of *juzgue* in the subjunctive.”

Correction: Always remember the 'u' after the 'g' in the subjunctive and preterite 'yo' form to keep the hard 'g' sound: *juzgue*.

estimar

verbB1general
Use 'estimar' when you are making an estimation or forming a considered opinion based on available information, similar to 'to estimate'.

Examples

Estimo que el viaje durará unas cinco horas.

I estimate that the trip will last about five hours.

oír

verbB1legal
Use 'oír' in a legal context when referring to the act of a judge or court listening to a case or testimony.

Examples

El tribunal oirá las pruebas presentadas por la defensa.

The court will hear the evidence presented by the defense.

Juzgar vs. Estimar

Learners often confuse 'juzgar' and 'estimar'. Remember that 'juzgar' is for forming an opinion or passing judgment, while 'estimar' is for making a calculation or forming a reasoned opinion about quantity or duration. Don't use 'estimar' for passing moral judgment.

Related Translations

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