Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Crime in Spanish: Crimen
Crimen · noun · KREE-mehn
Crimen is the Spanish word for crime, typically referring to a serious criminal act such as murder or armed robbery. For less severe offenses, Spanish uses 'delito' (a legal term closer to 'offense' or 'misdemeanor'). When discussing crime as a social phenomenon or crime rates, 'delincuencia' or 'criminalidad' is preferred over the singular 'crimen.'
KREE-mehn
La policía investiga el crimen que ocurrió anoche.
The police are investigating the crime that occurred last night.
Crime in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for crime, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| crimen | crime | KREE-mehn | Default, widely understood |
| delito | crime | legal/lesser offense | |
| delincuencia | crime | crime as phenomenon |
How Native Speakers Use Crimen
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Serious crime
Cometieron un crimen terrible en el centro de la ciudad.
They committed a terrible crime in the city center.
Reporting a serious criminal act.
Legal offense
Conducir ebrio es un delito grave en muchos países.
Driving drunk is a serious crime in many countries.
Legal classification of offenses.
Social issue
La delincuencia juvenil ha aumentado en los últimos años.
Youth crime has increased in recent years.
Discussing crime as a social phenomenon.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Crimen
Using crimen for minor offenses
Incorrect: Cruzar la calle en rojo es un crimen.
Correct: Cruzar la calle en rojo es una infracción.
Crimen implies a serious criminal act. Minor infractions like jaywalking are 'infracciones' or at most 'faltas.' Using crimen for trivial offenses sounds dramatically exaggerated in Spanish.
Plural formation
Incorrect: Los crímens de la zona preocupan a los vecinos.
Correct: Los crímenes de la zona preocupan a los vecinos.
The plural of crimen is 'crímenes' — adding -es and shifting the accent. This follows the pattern of other words ending in -en whose stress changes in the plural.
Lock in Crime 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 Crimen used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Crime in Spanish
- What is the difference between crimen and delito?
- In legal Spanish, 'delito' is the broader legal term for any punishable offense, while 'crimen' specifically denotes grave or violent crimes. Many Spanish legal systems classify offenses into 'delitos' (crimes) and 'faltas' (minor offenses), reserving 'crimen' for colloquial reference to especially heinous acts.
- How do you say crime rate in Spanish?
- Crime rate translates as 'tasa de criminalidad' or 'índice de delincuencia.' Both are standard in journalism and public policy discussions. You might also encounter 'tasa delictiva' in more technical statistical reports.
- What is the plural of crimen?
- The plural is 'crímenes' with the stress shifting to the antepenultimate syllable and gaining a written accent. This follows the same pattern as other Spanish nouns like 'examen/exámenes' and 'imagen/imágenes' where the plural adds -es and requires an accent mark.