alegato
/aleˈɡato/masculine
The English phrase plea can be translated into Spanish as alegato. Wiktionary also lists ruego.
Meaning: appeal, petition, entreaty (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| alegato | /aleˈɡato/ | masculine |
| ruego | /ˈrweɡo/ | masculine |
The term alegato is specifically used in legal contexts to describe a formal statement or argument presented to a judge or jury.
Which one should you use?
Use alegato when referring to a formal legal plea, such as a closing argument or a statement made in a court of law. In contrast, ruego denotes a formal request or plea.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both alegato and ruego are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/aleˈɡato/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word ruego is often used in formal letters as part of the phrase ruego a usted, which translates to 'I beg of you'. This is a standard professional courtesy rather than a desperate emotional plea.
- While an alegato is a legal argument, the verb alegar is commonly used in daily life to mean 'making excuses' for a mistake.
- The word alegato shares the same Latin root as the English word 'allegation', though they have branched into different nuances in modern usage.
Examples in context
- Le hago una súplica al juezI make a plea to the judge
- Le ruego a la corte que me escucheI plead to the court to listen to me
- Su señoría, le hago una súplica encarecida para que considere mi situación difícil.Your Honor, I make an earnest plea for you to consider my difficult situation.
- Amigo, te ruego que me prestes el dinero que necesito para cubrir mis gastos.Friend, I plead with you to lend me the money I need to cover my expenses.
- El abogado presentó su alegato final.The lawyer presented his final plea.
- Su alegato fue muy convincente ante el juez.His plea was very convincing before the judge.
- Estamos revisando el alegato de la defensa.We are reviewing the defense's plea.
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are discussing a legal case.
- MateoElena, ¿leíste el alegato que escribió el abogado?Elena, did you read the plea the lawyer wrote?
- ElenaSí, Mateo, me parece que es muy fuerte.Yes, Mateo, I think it is very strong.
- MateoEspero que el juez acepte ese alegato.I hope the judge accepts that plea.
- ElenaYo también, es la mejor opción ahora.I do too, it is the best option now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “plea” translations and entries alegato, ruego, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alegato, ruego, CC BY-SA 4.0.
