Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| citación | /θitaˈθjon/ /sitaˈsjon/ |
feminine |
| requerimiento | /rekeɾiˈmjento/ | masculine |
| citatorio | /θitaˈtoɾjo/ /sitaˈtoɾjo/ |
masculine |
| citatoria | /θitatoɾja/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /sitatoɾja/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
A subpoena is a legal writ that requires a person to appear in court or at a legal proceeding as a witness. While various terms can be used to describe this legal command, citación is the standard term for a subpoena to appear as a witness. If you are referring specifically to the act of appearing in court in response to a subpoena and testifying under oath, the term comparecencia is used.
Which one should you use?
While several terms relate to legal summons, citación is the most common term for a subpoena to appear as a witness. The term citatorio is also used to refer to a legal summons or subpoena, but it is specifically common in Mexico.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, citatorio is a common term for a legal summons or subpoena.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the action of issuing a subpoena or summoning someone to court, use the verb citar. If the subpoena is specifically for the purpose of giving testimony, the phrase citar a declarar is used.
How do you pronounce it?
/θitaˈθjon/
Did you know?
- The English word 'subpoena' comes from a Latin phrase meaning 'under penalty', but the Spanish citación focuses entirely on the act of 'summoning' or 'calling' the person.
- The verb citar, used to issue a subpoena, is also the standard term for 'to quote' a source in an academic paper or book.
- The word requerimiento can function as a subpoena but also carries a general meaning of a formal demand or urgent command.
Examples in context
- La fiscalía emitió una citación para que el testigo se presente en el tribunal.The prosecution issued a subpoena for the witness to appear in court.
- Recibí una citación judicial en relación al caso.I received a subpoena in relation to the case.
- El juez ordenó la comparecencia del acusado y los testigos.The judge ordered the appearance of the accused and the witnesses.
- ¿Has recibido una llamada a declarar en el juicio?Have you received a call to testify in the trial?
- Necesito presentar una orden judicial para obtener esos documentos.I need to present a court order to obtain those documents.
- La parte demandada recibió una orden judicial para entregar la evidencia.The defendant received a court order to deliver the evidence.
- Recibí una citación para declarar mañana.I received a subpoena to testify tomorrow.
- No puedes ignorar esa citación judicial.You cannot ignore that court subpoena.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are talking at a coffee shop about a legal matter.
- LucíaAlejandro, ¿recibiste la citación por correo?Alejandro, did you receive the subpoena by mail?
- AlejandroSí, Lucía, me llegó esta mañana.Yes, Lucía, it arrived this morning.
- LucíaDebes ir a la corte para testificar.You must go to court to testify.
- AlejandroLo sé, tengo que ir sin falta.I know, I have to go without fail.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “subpoena” translations and entries citación, requerimiento, citatorio, 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 citación, citatorio, requerimiento, CC BY-SA 4.0.
