Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tombo | /ˈtombo/ | masculine |
| paco | /ˈpako/ | masculine |
| paca | /ˈpaka/ | feminine |
| madero | /maˈdeɾo/ | masculine |
| picoleto | /pikoˈleto/ | Spain, colloquial, masculine |
| shafo | /safo/ (from spelling rules) | Argentina, masculine |
| cuilío | /kwiˈlio/ | masculine |
| tamarindo | /tamaˈɾindo/ | Mexico, dated, masculine, slang |
The terms provided are informal or slang ways to refer to a police officer. For neutral or standard communication, use policía. If you need to be professional or formal, use agente de policía or oficial de policía.
Which one should you use?
While tombo is a general informal term, other forms carry specific connotations. Paco and madero are both derogatory and are used to show disrespect. Picoleto is specifically a colloquial term used in Spain, while shafo is Argentine slang. Tamarindo is a slang term used in Mexico, though it is now considered dated.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Agente de policía and oficial de policía are the formal ways to refer to an officer. Tombo is an informal noun. Paco, madero and cuilío are derogatory. Picoleto and shafo are colloquial.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you may hear the colloquial term picoleto. In Argentina, the slang term shafo is used. In Mexico, the dated slang term tamarindo was used. In Colombia, the term uniformado is used to describe an officer in uniform.
How does it change in a sentence?
The term paco is masculine, and its feminine form is paca.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of tombo is /ˈtombo/.
Did you know?
- The slang term paco may originate from the Quechua word p'aqu, which means 'reddish', possibly referring to the color of a uniform.
Examples in context
- Mi cuñado es un madero.My brother-in-law is a cop.This sentence uses madero to describe a family member.Tatoeba #1333019 by Shishir, translation #1333029 by Shishir
- El policía llegó al lugar del incidente rápidamente.The cop arrived at the scene quickly.
- Ese tombo me vio.That cop saw me.
Example conversation
María and Mateo are walking home late at night.
- María¿Viste al tombo de la esquina?Did you see the cop on the corner?
- MateoNo, no lo vi.No, I didn't see him.
- MaríaÉl estaba vigilando la calle.He was watching the street.
- MateoEntonces estamos seguros.Then we are safe.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cop” translations and entries tombo, paco, paca, madero, picoleto, shafo, cuilío, tamarindo, 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 paca, paco, tombo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
