Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| comisaría de policía | /komisaɾia de poliθia/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /komisaɾia de polisia/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| comisaría | /komisaˈɾia/ | feminine |
| estación policiaca | /estaθjon poliθjaka/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /estasjon polisjaka/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| comisaría policíaca | /komisaɾia poliθiaka/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /komisaɾia polisiaka/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| estación policial | /estaθjon poliθjal/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /estasjon polisjal/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
All these terms refer to the building where a police force is located. While comisaría de policía is a full, formal way to name the building, speakers frequently use the shorter comisaría in everyday conversation. In many Spanish-speaking countries, people might even use the word policía on its own to refer to the station.
Which one should you use?
The term comisaría is a shortened, common version of the more formal comisaría de policía. The forms estación policiaca, comisaría policíaca and estación policial are variations used to describe the station, with estación policiaca being more common in parts of Latin America.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, comisaría de policía is the standard term. In many parts of Latin America, you will hear estación policiaca. In Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, the term jefatura de policía is commonly used to refer specifically to the police headquarters.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to say that someone is 'at' the police station, use the preposition en (en la comisaría) instead of a.
How do you pronounce it?
/komisaɾia de poliθia/
Did you know?
- The term comisaría is derived from comisario, a rank that historically functioned more like a magistrate or a commissioner than a modern police chief.
- The Spanish term policía is actually a descendant of the Ancient Greek word 'politeía', which originally referred to the management of a city or a state.
- While estación is used for a police station in some regions, it is the same word used for a train or bus station, meaning the word literally describes a place where one stops.
Examples in context
- Pasaré la noche en comisaría.I'll spend the night at the police station.This sentence shows how to use comisaría to say someone is spending the night at the station.Tatoeba #6791405 by arh, translation #7193863 by Sleekkat
- Pregunta en la comisaría de allí.Ask at the police station over there.This sentence demonstrates using comisaría to indicate a location.Tatoeba #1633765 by teskmon, translation #1584073 by CK
- Dan intentó escapar de la comisaría.Dan tried to escape from the police station.This sentence shows the use of comisaría in the context of escaping from a station.Tatoeba #6940799 by emigonza, translation #3930910 by Amastan
- Perdón, ¿dónde está la estación de policía más cercana?Excuse me, where is the nearest police station?
- Necesito presentar una denuncia en la comisaría de policíaI need to file a report at the police station
- Tengo que ir a la comisaría para renovar mi documento de identidadI have to go to the police station to renew my identification document
- Debes solicitar un permiso en la jefatura de policía si vas a organizar un evento masivoYou must request a permit at the police headquarters if you are going to organize a massive event
- Me robaron el teléfono y tengo que ir a la delegación de policía para denunciarloMy phone got stolen, and I have to go to the police station to report it
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are walking in the city and are lost.
- AlejandroElena, ¿sabes dónde está la comisaría de policía?Elena, do you know where the police station is?
- ElenaNo estoy segura, pero creo que está por aquí.I am not sure, but I think it is around here.
- AlejandroNecesito encontrar la comisaría de policía rápidamente.I need to find the police station quickly.
- ElenaMira, Alejandro, allí está la comisaría.Look, Alejandro, there is the police station.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “police station” translations and entries comisaría, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, estación, policía, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
