culpable
/kulˈpable/
The Spanish word for culprit is culpable.
culpable is used to refer to a person or thing at fault for a problem or a crime. In formal settings, if you are referring to someone who is responsible for something, you can also use Responsable. If you are specifically discussing someone involved in criminal activities, the term Delincuente can be used to represent a criminal or offender.
Meaning: person or thing at fault of problem or crime (noun)
Which one should you use?
While culpable can mean 'the culprit' (the person), it is also the standard adjective used to mean 'guilty' in a legal or moral sense.
How does it change in a sentence?
culpable is an adjective that can function as a noun meaning 'the culprit' when it is preceded by a definite article. To express the plural 'culprits', add -es to the end of the word to get culpables.
How do you pronounce it?
/kulˈpable/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers may mistakenly try to use culpable as a direct noun for 'the culprit' without an article. In Spanish, you must use el culpable or la culpable to refer to the person.
Did you know?
- If you want to say 'the culprit' in a journalistic headline, you will often see el autor del delito instead of el culpable. This translates to 'the author of the crime' and is the preferred professional way to name an offender.
- Spanish speakers often use the phrase el culpable ironically to refer to a harmless object or a pet that caused a small mess, turning the legal term into a playful accusation.
- The word culpable is derived from the Latin word culpābilis.
Examples in context
- Arrestaron al culpable unos seis meses después.They arrested the culprit around six months later.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use culpable after a verb.Tatoeba #1659259 by marcelostockle, translation #5284361 by tabular
- El responsable del accidenteThe culprit of the accident
- El delincuente fue capturadoThe culprit was captured
- El inculpado está siendo investigadoThe accused is being investigated
- ¡Eres el culpable!You are the culprit!
- Todavía no sabemos quién es el culpable.We still don't know who the culprit is.
- El virus es el culpable de todo este caos.The virus is the culprit behind all this chaos.
Example conversation
María and Javier are looking for who ate the last piece of cake.
- MaríaAlguien se comió mi pastel.Someone ate my cake.
- Javier¿Quién crees que es el culpable?Who do you think is the culprit?
- MaríaCreo que fue el perro, Javier.I think it was the dog, Javier.
- JavierTienes razón, tiene crema en la cara.You're right, he has cream on his face.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry culpable, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries culpable, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
