forajido
/foɾaˈxido/
The English verb 'outlaw' can be translated into Spanish as forajido.
The term forajido is primarily used as a noun to describe a fugitive from the law.
Meaning: to declare illegal (verb)
Which one should you use?
While forajido refers to a fugitive, if you are describing someone or something that has been officially banned, outlawed or exiled by a government or authority, the more formal term is proscrito or proscripto. Additionally, to describe the state of being outside the law, the common phrase is fuera de la ley.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
If you want to express the action of declaring something illegal (the verb 'to outlaw'), do not use the noun forajido. Instead, use the verb proscribir.
How do you pronounce it?
/foɾaˈxido/
Did you know?
- The term forajido is a linguistic fossil from the Medieval period. It originated from the phrase fuera exido, which literally translated to 'has gone out' to describe someone who had departed from society.
- The word forajido is so closely tied to the imagery of bandits and gunslingers that using it today often makes a speaker sound like they are in a Western movie.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, being described as fuera de la ley can be a social critique rather than a legal one. It can imply that a person is behaving immorally or is an outcast in their community.
Examples in context
- Las fuerzas de la ley persiguen a los forajidosThe law enforcement is chasing the outlaws
- Los bandidos del Oeste eran temidos por su valentíaThe outlaws of the West were feared for their bravery
- Los maleantes fueron detenidos en el actoThe outlaws were caught in the act
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are discussing a new law.
- LucíaMateo, ¿leíste que van a forajido las apuestas?Mateo, did you read that they are going to outlaw gambling?
- MateoSí, Lucía, creo que es una medida necesaria.Yes, Lucía, I think it is a necessary measure.
- LucíaPero no creo que sea justo forajido eso.But I don't think it's fair to outlaw that.
- MateoYa veremos qué pasa con la nueva ley.We will see what happens with the new law.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry forajido, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries forajido, CC BY-SA 4.0.
