testigo
/tesˈtiɡo/masculine
The English word witness is testigo in Spanish.
testigo refers to a person who has personal knowledge of an event or occurrence. You can also use the related verb testificar to mean either to preach by presenting personal testimony or to furnish proof of something.
Meaning: one who has a personal knowledge of something (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Mexico and Central America, the term declarante may be used to mean witness within a legal context.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
While testigo is a masculine noun, it can be used with feminine articles and adjectives to refer specifically to a female witness. The plural form of the word is testigos.
How do you pronounce it?
/tesˈtiɡo/
Did you know?
- In a relay race, the baton passed between runners is called the testigo in several Spanish-speaking countries.
- Architects and masons use a testigo as a physical marker, such as a piece of plaster over a wall crack, to monitor if a building is shifting.
- The Spanish word testigo shares a deep linguistic root with the English word 'testify', as both descend from the Latin 'testis'.
Examples in context
- No hay ningún testigo.There's no witness.This sentence shows how to express the absence of a testigo.Tatoeba #4522812 by cueyayotl, translation #5984846 by Adelpa
- Tom era un mero testigo.Tom was merely a witness.This sentence uses testigo to describe someone who was merely an observer.Tatoeba #1820000 by Shishir, translation #1517918 by Spamster
- La testigo no recordaba.The witness didn't remember.This sentence uses testigo to describe a witness who could not remember.Tatoeba #7843317 by arh, translation #9004199 by helloroto
- Llamo a un testigoI call a witness
- El testigo declara bajo juramentoThe witness testifies under oath
- Oí a un testigo decir esoI heard a witness say that
- Durante el juicio, varios testigos declararon en contra del acusado.During the trial, several witnesses testified against the defendant.
- No puedo creer lo que dijo el testiguito en la fiesta anoche.I can't believe what the little witness said at the party last night.
- 27 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are discussing a car accident they saw.
- SofíaDaniel, ¿fuiste testigo del accidente?Daniel, were you a witness to the accident?
- DanielSí, yo fui el único testigo.Yes, I was the only witness.
- Sofía¿Tienes que hablar con la policía?Do you have to speak with the police?
- DanielSí, necesitan el testimonio del testigo.Yes, they need the witness's testimony.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “witness” translations and entries testigo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries testigo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
