Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| incendio provocado | /inθendjo pɾobokado/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /insendjo pɾobokado/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| incendio premeditado | /inθendjo pɾemeditado/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /insendjo pɾemeditado/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| delito de incendio | /delito de inθendjo/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /delito de insendjo/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| incendio intencional | /inθendjo intenθjonal/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /insendjo intensjonal/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| crimen incendiario | /kɾimen inθendjaɾjo/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /kɾimen insendjaɾjo/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| incendio pirómano | /inθendjo piɾomano/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /insendjo piɾomano/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| incendio piromaníaco | /inθendjo piɾomaniako/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /insendjo piɾomaniako/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| incendio criminal | /inθendjo kɾiminal/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /insendjo kɾiminal/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| incendio malicioso | /inθendjo maliθjoso/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /insendjo malisjoso/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| incendio delictivo | /inθendjo deliɡtibo/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /insendjo deliɡtibo/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| incendio delictuoso | /inθendjo deliɡtwoso/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /insendjo deliɡtwoso/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine, uncommon |
The term incendio provocado is the most common way to describe the criminal act of arson in both legal and journalistic contexts.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase incendio provocado literally translates to provoked fire.
Which one should you use?
While incendio provocado is the standard term for the crime, the word incendio alone simply means fire or conflagration without implying criminal intent. Other variants like incendio premeditado, incendio intencional, incendio criminal, incendio malicioso, incendio delictivo or the uncommon incendio delictuoso also convey the idea of an intentional fire.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase incendio provocado is a masculine noun phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
/inθendjo pɾobokado/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers might mistakenly use incendio pirómano to mean arson, but pirómano refers to the person (the pyromaniac) rather than the crime itself.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- La policía investiga el incendio provocado.The police are investigating the arson.
- El perito confirmó que fue un incendio provocado.The expert confirmed it was arson.
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are discussing a news report about a burnt warehouse.
- AlejandroMira, el almacén se quemó anoche.Look, the warehouse burned down last night.
- MaríaParece que fue un incendio provocado.It looks like it was arson.
- Alejandro¿Crees que alguien quiera hacer daño?Do you think someone wants to cause harm?
- MaríaSí, es un crimen muy grave.Yes, it is a very serious crime.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “arson” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, delito, incendio, intencional, CC BY-SA 4.0.
