forense
/foˈɾense/feminine, masculine
The Spanish word for coroner is forense.
The term forense can function as a noun to refer to the professional who performs autopsies, or as an adjective meaning "forensic" (relating to forensics). In many Spanish-speaking contexts, it is more common to use the phrase médico forense to describe the medical examiner or forensic doctor.
Meaning: who performs autopsies (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the term el médico legista is sometimes used to refer to a coroner.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word forense is used for both masculine and feminine subjects. Use el forense when referring to a male coroner or a coroner of unknown gender, and use la forense when referring specifically to a female coroner.
How do you pronounce it?
/foˈɾense/
Did you know?
- The word forense is rooted in the Latin word 'forum', the public square where legal and political matters were debated. This connects the modern medical professional directly to the ancient site of public justice.
- While forense refers to the professional, the field itself is called medicina legal in many jurisdictions, meaning 'legal medicine'.
- In Spanish, the word forense can be used to describe non-medical activities, such as arquitectura forense to describe the analysis of collapsed buildings.
Examples in context
- El forense examinó el cadáver para determinar la causa de muerte.The coroner examined the corpse to determine the cause of death.
- El médico forense llegó a la escena del crimen para recolectar evidencia.The coroner arrived at the crime scene to collect evidence.
- Según el médico de la morgue, la causa de muerte fue un envenenamiento.According to the coroner, the cause of death was poisoning.
- El médico legista realizó la autopsia para esclarecer las circunstancias del fallecimiento.The coroner performed the autopsy to clarify the circumstances of the death.
- El prestigioso forense españolThe prestigious Spanish coroner
- Los valientes médicos forensesThe brave coroners
- La oficina del forenseThe coroner's office
- El médico forense llegó a la escena.The forensic doctor arrived at the scene.
- Ella trabaja como forense en la ciudad.She works as a coroner in the city.
- Necesitamos llamar a un forense para el informe.We need to call a coroner for the report.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a crime news report.
- SofíaSofía, ¿viste que el forense ya terminó el informe?Sofía, did you see that the coroner already finished the report?
- AlejandroNo, Alejandro, aún no he leído las noticias.No, Alejandro, I haven't read the news yet.
- SofíaDice que la forense encontró rastros de veneno.It says that the coroner found traces of poison.
- AlejandroEso cambia todo el caso entonces.That changes the whole case then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coroner” translations and entries forense, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries forense, CC BY-SA 4.0.
