Spanish crime vocabulary for news and conversations

Understand the key people, objects and events mentioned in a basic crime report. These 12 words appear in careful examples and a fictional news conversation.

12 crime words to recognise

Bullet vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Bala

English

Bullet

Criminal vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Delincuente

English

Criminal

Detective vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Detective

English

Detective

Fingerprint vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Huella

English

Fingerprint

Gun vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Pistola

English

Gun

Hitman vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Sicario

English

Hitman

Hostage vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Rehén

English

Hostage

Judge vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Juez

English

Judge

Poison vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Veneno

English

Poison

Prison vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Cárcel

English

Prison

Siren vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Sirena

English

Siren

Victim vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Víctima

English

Victim

Crime words in context

See how each word works in a natural Spanish sentence.

  1. La policía encontró una bala en el lugar.The police found a bullet at the scene.
  2. El delincuente fue identificado por las cámaras.The criminal was identified by the cameras.
  3. La detective entrevistó a varios testigos.The detective interviewed several witnesses.
  4. Hallaron una huella en la puerta.They found a fingerprint on the door.
  5. La pistola fue entregada como prueba.The gun was submitted as evidence.
  6. La novela trata de un sicario que abandona el crimen.The novel is about a hitman who leaves crime behind.
  7. El rehén fue liberado sin lesiones.The hostage was released without injuries.
  8. El juez escuchará a ambas partes mañana.The judge will hear both sides tomorrow.
  9. El laboratorio analizó el veneno encontrado.The laboratory analysed the poison that was found.
  10. El tribunal decidió enviarlo a la cárcel.The court decided to send him to prison.
  11. Oímos una sirena cerca de la estación.We heard a siren near the station.
  12. La víctima recibió atención médica inmediata.The victim received immediate medical attention.

Talking about a crime report

Use these neutral patterns to understand or summarise what a report says without making assumptions about guilt.

Según el informe…

According to the report…

Según el informe, encontraron una huella.According to the report, they found a fingerprint.

La policía encontró…

The police found…

La policía encontró una pistola.The police found a gun.

El juez decidió…

The judge decided…

El juez decidió escuchar a otro testigo.The judge decided to hear another witness.

La víctima fue…

The victim was…

La víctima fue trasladada al hospital.The victim was taken to hospital.

Todavía están investigando…

They're still investigating…

Todavía están investigando al delincuente.They're still investigating the criminal.

A conversation about a news report

  1. Elena¿Viste el reportaje sobre el caso?Did you see the report about the case?
  2. BrunoSí. La detective encontró una huella en la puerta.Yes. The detective found a fingerprint on the door.
  3. ElenaTambién dijeron que la víctima está fuera de peligro.They also said the victim is out of danger.
  4. BrunoLa policía oyó una sirena y llegó rápidamente.The police heard a siren and arrived quickly.
  5. Elena¿Ya detuvieron al delincuente?Have they arrested the criminal yet?
  6. BrunoSí, pero el juez todavía tiene que revisar las pruebas.Yes, but the judge still has to review the evidence.

Try one in the VocabTally quiz

Choose the English meaning, just as you would while practising in the app.

00

What does this mean in English?

Huella

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