verificación de antecedentes
/beɾifikaθjon de anteθedentes/from spelling rulesfeminine
The English phrase "background check" can be translated into Spanish as verificación de antecedentes. Wiktionary also lists chequeo de antecedentes.
Meaning: report on a person (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| verificación de antecedentes | /beɾifikaθjon de anteθedentes/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /beɾifikasjon de antesedentes/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| chequeo de antecedentes | /t͡ʃekeo de anteθedentes/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /t͡ʃekeo de antesedentes/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
Both terms refer to a report on a person.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase verificación de antecedentes literally translates to "verification of antecedents".
Which one should you use?
Verificación de antecedentes is the more formal and standard term used in official or legal contexts. In contrast, chequeo de antecedentes is a more colloquial or anglicized way to say "background check" and is common in many Latin American countries.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, investigación de antecedentes is used as an alternative to verificación de antecedentes.
How does it change in a sentence?
verificación de antecedentes is a feminine noun phrase, while chequeo de antecedentes is a masculine noun phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
/beɾifikaθjon de anteθedentes/
Did you know?
- The word antecedentes does not just refer to a person's history, but is also the standard term for 'medical history' or 'family history' in a clinical setting.
- While English uses 'background' to describe a person's history, Spanish uses antecedentes, which more closely translates to 'things that went before'.
- While chequeo is common in Latin America, the word chequear is often avoided in formal Spanish from Spain, where speakers prefer comprobar or verificar.
Examples in context
- Me gustaría solicitar una verificación de antecedentesI would like to request a background check.
- Voy a hacer un chequeo de antecedentes antes de salir con esta personaI'm going to do a background check before going out with this person.
- Necesito hacer una verificación de antecedentesI need to do a background check.
- Quiero realizar una exhaustiva verificación de antecedentesI want to do a thorough background check.
- La verificación de antecedentes es obligatoria.The background check is mandatory.
- Necesito una verificación de antecedentes para el empleo.I need a background check for the job.
- Ellos completaron la verificación de antecedentes ayer.They completed the background check yesterday.
Example conversation
At a human resources office during a job interview.
- María¿Ya recibió su verificación de antecedentes, Mateo?Have you received your background check yet, Mateo?
- MateoNo, María, todavía no he recibido nada.No, María, I haven't received anything yet.
- MaríaNo se preocupe, la verificación de antecedentes tarda un poco.Don't worry, the background check takes a little while.
- MateoEstá bien, esperaré la respuesta.That's fine, I will wait for the response.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “background check” 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.
