Is it said differently in some regions?
Different regions have specific terms for certain types of criminals. In Argentina and Uruguay, punga refers to a pickpocket or a skilled thief. In Spain and some Latin American countries, caco is a term for a thief or burglar. In Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador, pandillero is used to refer to a gang member. Additionally, ladrón (thief) or ladrona (feminine thief) is used generally, but punga and caco are more geographically specific.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word criminal can refer to both a man and a woman. However, the definite article must change to match the gender of the person (el criminal vs. la criminal). To form the plural, add -es to the end of the word to get criminales. For the word ladrón (thief), the feminine form is ladrona.
How do you pronounce it?
/kɾimiˈnal/
Did you know?
- The Spanish term caco for a thief is believed to come from Cacus, a legendary thief from Roman mythology.
- While criminal refers to the person, Spanish uses the word crimen to describe the act, but in some contexts, crimen can specifically imply a murder rather than any general law-breaking.
- The Spanish word criminal is borrowed from the Late Latin criminālis, which combined crīmen meaning 'accusation' and the suffix -ālis.
Examples in context
- Él no es un criminal.He's not a criminal.This sentence is useful for denying that someone is a criminal.Tatoeba #3143796 by cueyayotl, translation #2301440 by Hybrid
- El criminal dejó huellas.The criminal left footprints.This sentence is useful for describing a criminal leaving footprints.Tatoeba #1602183 by marcelostockle, translation #282804 by CK
- El criminal está nervioso.The criminal is nervous.This sentence is useful for describing a criminal feeling nervous.Tatoeba #1200277 by marcelostockle, translation #898392 by Scott
- 31 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are watching a crime news report on TV.
- AlejandroEse criminal es muy peligroso.That criminal is very dangerous.
- MaríaSí, la policía lo busca.Yes, the police are looking for him.
- AlejandroEspero que lo atrapen pronto.I hope they catch him soon.
- MaríaSeguro que lo encontrarán.I am sure they will find him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “criminal” translations and entries criminal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries criminal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
