Inklingo

How to Say "you suspect" in Spanish

English → Spanish

sospechas

so-SPEH-chas/soˈspe.tʃas/

verbA2
Use this when you mean 'you have a suspicion' or 'you think something is likely true' about a situation or person.
A young person dressed like a detective is pointing an accusing finger directly at a small, nervous dog standing next to a broken cookie jar.

Examples

¿Tú sospechas algo de lo que dijo Juan?

Do you suspect anything about what Juan said?

Si sospechas que algo está mal, debes decirlo.

If you suspect that something is wrong, you should say it.

Siempre sospechas de mis intenciones.

You always suspect my intentions.

Regular Verb Pattern

The verb 'sospechar' is a perfectly regular '-ar' verb. Once you know the pattern for a verb like 'hablar' (to talk), you know how to conjugate 'sospechar' in all tenses!

Using the wrong preposition

Mistake:Sospecho en él. (I suspect in him.)

Correction: Sospecho de él. (I suspect him/I suspect of him.) The verb 'sospechar' usually needs the small word 'de' (of/about) before the person or thing you doubt.

moscas

/MO-skahs//ˈmoskas/

verbC1informal
Use this reflexive verb, 'te moscas', when you mean 'you get annoyed' or 'you get irritated' by someone or something.
An illustration showing one person repeatedly poking another person's shoulder with a finger. The person being poked has an annoyed expression and crossed arms.

Examples

Si tú le moscas con ese tono, no va a ayudarte.

If you annoy him with that tone, he's not going to help you.

The 'Tú' Form

This specific form, 'moscas,' is the 'tú' (you, informal singular) conjugation for the present tense. If you are talking to a group, you would use 'moscan' (ustedes).

Don't confuse suspicion with annoyance

The most common mistake is using 'moscas' when you mean 'sospechas'. Remember that 'moscas' (reflexive 'te moscas') means to get annoyed, while 'sospechas' means to suspect or guess.

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