How to Say "unlawful" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “unlawful” is “ilegal” — use this word for actions that are generally forbidden or not permitted by law or rules, often in everyday situations.
ilegal
ee-leh-GAHLi.leˈɣal
Examples
Fumar en este edificio es completamente ilegal.
Smoking in this building is completely illegal.
La venta de ese producto se declaró ilegal.
The sale of that product was declared unlawful.
Cometió un acto ilegal al robar el coche.
He committed an illegal act by stealing the car.
Agreement is Key
Like many Spanish adjectives, 'ilegal' must match the number of the noun it describes (e.g., 'prácticas ilegales'). Luckily, it stays the same for masculine and feminine nouns because it ends in '-l' (e.g., 'el acto ilegal,' 'la acción ilegal').
Always Appears After the Noun
In Spanish, descriptive adjectives like 'ilegal' almost always come after the noun they modify: 'una práctica ilegal', not 'una ilegal práctica'.
Forgetting the Plural
Mistake: “Muchos actos ilegal.”
Correction: Muchos actos ilegales. (The adjective must end in '-es' when describing plural nouns.)
ilícito
ee-LEE-see-tohiˈli.si.to
Examples
El tráfico ilícito de animales es un crimen grave.
The illegal wildlife trade is a serious crime.
Obtuvo su fortuna de manera ilícita.
He obtained his fortune in an unlawful way.
Las autoridades cerraron el casino por actividades ilícitas.
The authorities closed the casino due to illegal activities.
Adjective Agreement
This word changes its ending to match what it describes. Use 'ilícito' for masculine things and 'ilícita' for feminine things.
Placement for Emphasis
Usually, 'ilícito' comes after the noun (e.g., 'negocio ilícito'). Placing it before the noun is rare and makes the sentence sound very poetic or dramatic.
Confusing with 'Ilegal'
Mistake: “Using 'ilícito' in casual conversation with friends.”
Correction: Use 'ilegal' for everyday talk. 'Ilícito' is better for formal writing or when talking about official rules.
criminal
kree-mee-NAHLkɾimiˈnal
Examples
La policía está investigando las actividades criminales del grupo.
The police are investigating the group's criminal activities.
El abogado dijo que no había prueba de intención criminal.
The lawyer said there was no proof of criminal intent.
Fue un error, no un acto criminal.
It was a mistake, not a criminal act.
Always the Same
As an adjective, 'criminal' is one of those words that stays the same whether the noun it describes is masculine (un acto criminal) or feminine (una intención criminal).
ilegales
ee-leh-GAH-lehsileˈɣales
Examples
La venta de esas sustancias es completamente ilegal y las autoridades están investigando.
The sale of those substances is completely illegal and the authorities are investigating.
Las descargas ilegales han afectado mucho a la industria musical.
Illegal downloads have greatly affected the music industry.
Agreement is Key
Since 'ilegales' is a plural adjective, it must match the noun it describes in number (plural) and gender (masculine or feminine). It works for both: 'acciones ilegales' (feminine) and 'negocios ilegales' (masculine).
Choosing Between 'Ilegal' and 'Ilícito'
Related Translations
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