malversado
/malbeɾsado/from spelling rules
The Spanish word for embezzled is malversado.
In a legal context, the standard phrase for the embezzlement of public funds is malversación de caudales públicos.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective malversado is the past participle of the verb malversar. Its form changes to match the noun it describes: use malversada for feminine nouns, malversados for masculine plural nouns and malversadas for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/malbeɾsado/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking countries, an official accused of malversación might be described as having manos largas, which literally means 'long hands'. This is a cultural idiom for someone who steals or embezzles.
- The term caudales públicos used in the phrase for embezzlement comes from caudal, which originally referred to the flow of a river. It evolved to describe the 'flow' of wealth or a large amount of money.
- In Spanish legal systems, malversación is often distinguished from peculado. While both involve misappropriation, peculado specifically describes a public official using funds for their own benefit, whereas malversación can include spending public money on the wrong public purpose.
Examples in context
- El empleado fue acusado de haber desviado fondos de la empresa.The employee was accused of having embezzled funds from the company.
- El político fue condenado por haber malversado dinero público.The politician was convicted of embezzling public funds.
- Descubrieron un chanchullo en las cuentas de la empresa.They discovered an embezzlement in the company's accounts.
- El empresario fue condenado por un desfalco millonario.The businessman was convicted of a million-dollar embezzlement.
- El tesorero ha malversado los fondos de la empresa.The treasurer has embezzled the company's funds.
- El dinero que fue malversado ya no se puede recuperar.The embezzled money can no longer be recovered.
- Él fue arrestado por haber malversado fondos públicos.He was arrested for having embezzled public funds.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are discussing a news report about a financial scandal at a local office.
- LucíaMateo, ¿viste lo que hizo el gerente?Mateo, did you see what the manager did?
- MateoSí, es increíble que haya malversado tanto dinero.Yes, it is incredible that he embezzled so much money.
- LucíaAhora la policía está investigando todo el caso.Now the police are investigating the whole case.
- MateoEspero que reciba el castigo que merece.I hope he receives the punishment he deserves.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
