Inklingo

How to Say "witness" in Spanish

English → Spanish

testigo

tes-TEE-gohtesˈti.ɣo

nounA2
Use 'testigo' when referring to someone who personally saw an event, especially in legal or everyday contexts.
A person standing outside, looking intently and seriously at an event happening in the distance.

Examples

Necesitamos encontrar al único testigo del accidente.

We need to find the only witness to the accident.

La testigo describió exactamente lo que vio en la calle.

The witness described exactly what she saw in the street.

Fuiste testigo de todo, ¿qué ocurrió realmente?

You were a witness to everything, what really happened?

Gender Flexibility

Even though 'testigo' ends in 'o', it can refer to both a man and a woman. You change the article: 'el testigo' (the male witness) or 'la testigo' (the female witness).

Confusing Noun Gender

Mistake: “Using 'la testiga' for a female witness.”

Correction: While 'testiga' exists, the most common and accepted form, especially in formal settings, is 'la testigo'. Treat it like a noun that keeps its form regardless of gender.

observador

ob-ser-ba-DORobseɾβaˈðoɾ

nounB1
Use 'observador' for someone officially appointed to watch or monitor a situation, like an election or a game, without direct involvement.
A person standing on a hill using binoculars to look at a distant mountain range.

Examples

El observador de la ONU llegó para supervisar las elecciones.

The UN observer arrived to oversee the elections.

Desde mi posición como observador, vi todo lo que pasó.

From my position as an observer, I saw everything that happened.

Los científicos necesitan ser buenos observadores de la naturaleza.

Scientists need to be good observers of nature.

Noun Genders

Use 'el observador' for a male and 'la observadora' for a female.

Observer vs. Watcher

Mistake: “Soy un observador de televisión.”

Correction: Soy un espectador de televisión. Use 'observador' for someone monitoring or studying something, use 'espectador' for someone watching a show.

mártir

MAR-teerˈmaɾtiɾ

nounB2formal
Use 'mártir' in a historical or religious context for someone who dies for their beliefs, a 'martyr' in English.
A humble person standing peacefully with their hands over their heart, bathed in a soft beam of light.

Examples

San Esteban es considerado el primer mártir cristiano.

Saint Stephen is considered the first Christian martyr.

Muchos lo ven como un mártir de la libertad de expresión.

Many see him as a martyr for freedom of expression.

La historia está llena de mártires que lucharon por la justicia.

History is full of martyrs who fought for justice.

One Word, Two Genders

The word 'mártir' doesn't change its ending for men or women. Use 'el mártir' for a man and 'la mártir' for a woman.

Where to put the stress

This word has an accent mark on the 'á' because it ends in 'r' but the stress is on the second-to-last syllable.

Don't say 'mártira'

Mistake: “La mártira murió por sus ideas.”

Correction: La mártir murió por sus ideas. (Spanish doesn't add an 'a' to this word for women.)

Testigo vs. Observador

Learners often confuse 'testigo' and 'observador'. Remember that 'testigo' implies having seen something happen, often as a potential source of information, while 'observador' refers to someone watching officially or impartially.

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