Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Attorney in Spanish: Abogado, Letrado & Licenciado
Abogado · noun (masculine/feminine) · ah-boh-GAH-doh
Abogado (feminine: abogada) is the standard Spanish word for attorney or lawyer. Letrado appears in formal courtroom documents and legal codes. In Mexico, licenciado is widely used as both a title and a synonym for lawyer, though it technically refers to any holder of a bachelor's degree.
ah-boh-GAH-doh (abogado) · ah-boh-GAH-dah (abogada) · leh-TRAH-doh (letrado) · lee-sehn-see-AH-doh (licenciado)
Necesito hablar con mi abogado antes de firmar.
I need to talk to my attorney before signing.
Attorney in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for attorney, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| abogado | attorney | ah-boh-GAH-doh | Default, widely understood |
| abogada | attorney | feminine form, increasingly standard | |
| letrado | attorney | formal legal term used in court documents | |
| licenciado | attorney | Mexico, used as a professional title |
How Native Speakers Use Abogado
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Everyday legal context
El abogado revisó el contrato y encontró varias cláusulas problemáticas.
The attorney reviewed the contract and found several problematic clauses.
Abogado is the all-purpose word for a legal professional across every Spanish-speaking country.
Courtroom formality
El letrado de la defensa solicitó un aplazamiento del juicio.
Defense counsel requested a postponement of the trial.
Letrado appears in court proceedings and legal filings, similar to counsel in English legalese.
Mexican professional title
El licenciado Ramírez atenderá su caso esta semana.
Attorney Ramírez will handle your case this week.
In Mexico, licenciado is used as a respectful title when addressing lawyers and other degree-holding professionals.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Abogado
Using procurador as a synonym for attorney
Incorrect: Mi procurador me representará en el juicio.
Correct: Mi abogado me representará en el juicio.
A procurador in Spain is a legal representative who handles procedural filings, not the same as an abogado who provides legal counsel and argues cases. The roles are distinct in Spanish law.
Forgetting the feminine form
Incorrect: Ella es un abogado excelente.
Correct: Ella es una abogada excelente.
Spanish marks gender on profession nouns. For a woman, use abogada with the feminine article una. Using abogado for a woman sounds outdated and incorrect in modern usage.
Lock in Attorney Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Abogado used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using abogado in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Necesito hablar con mi abogado antes de firmar. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Attorney in Spanish
- How do you say attorney in Spanish?
- The standard word is abogado (masculine) or abogada (feminine). It covers attorney, lawyer, and legal counsel in all Spanish-speaking regions. Letrado is more formal and appears in court, while licenciado works as a title in Mexico.
- What is the difference between abogado and licenciado?
- Abogado specifically means attorney or lawyer. Licenciado literally means someone who holds a licenciatura (bachelor's degree) and can refer to any professional with that credential. In Mexico, calling a lawyer licenciado is a courtesy title, but the terms are not interchangeable elsewhere.
- How do I say I need a lawyer in Spanish?
- The most direct phrase is necesito un abogado (or necesito una abogada). In urgent or legal situations, you might also hear quiero hablar con mi abogado (I want to speak with my lawyer), which mirrors the English phrasing.