pagar la fianza
/paɡaɾ la fjanθa/from spelling rules
To post bail in Spanish is pagar la fianza.
The phrase refers to the act of paying a set amount of money to a court to release a detained person until their trial.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase pagar la fianza is composed of the verb pagar (to pay), the definite article la (the) and the noun fianza (bail or bond).
Which one should you use?
You may encounter Abonar la caución, which uses the word caución for bail and Garantizar la libertad bajo fianza, a formal expression that emphasizes the guarantee of freedom associated with posting bail.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb pagar is a regular -ar verb. In the past tense, it becomes pagó la fianza to mean he/she/it paid bail.
How do you pronounce it?
/paɡaɾ la fjanθa/
Did you know?
- The verb pagar originates from the Latin word pācāre, meaning 'to pacify'. This reveals a historical link between making a payment and bringing peace to a dispute.
- The word fianza shares its root with the English word 'fidelity', as both involve the idea of being faithful to an agreement.
- In some Spanish-speaking legal systems, there is a distinction between fianza (money paid) and libertad condicional (conditional release), which may not involve a payment at all.
Examples in context
- El acusado pagará la fianzaThe accused will post bail
- El sospechoso decidió abonar la cauciónThe suspect decided to post bail
- La defensa logró garantizar la libertad bajo fianzaThe defense managed to secure bail
- Juan necesita poner la fianzaJuan needs to post bail
- La abogada recomendó que Juan pague la fianza para salir de prisiónThe lawyer suggested that Juan post bail to get out of prison
- Voy a poner la fianza para que mi hermano pueda salirI'm going to post bail so that my brother can get out
- El abogado recomendó pagar la fianza para que el cliente pudiera salir de la cárcel.The lawyer recommended posting bail so that the client could leave jail.
- Él puede pagar la fianza para salir.He can post bail to get out.
- Necesitamos dinero para pagar la fianza.We need money to post bail.
- La familia decidió pagar la fianza ayer.The family decided to post bail yesterday.
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are discussing a friend's legal situation.
- ElenaJuan está en la cárcel ahora.Juan is in jail right now.
- Alejandro¿Ya pudieron pagar la fianza?Were they able to post bail yet?
- ElenaNo, no tienen suficiente dinero.No, they don't have enough money.
- AlejandroEs triste que no puedan pagar la fianza.It is sad that they cannot post bail.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fianza, la, pagar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
