Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Felony in Spanish: Delito Grave
Delito Grave · noun phrase (masculine) · deh-LEE-toh GRAH-beh
The Spanish equivalent of felony is 'delito grave,' literally meaning 'serious crime.' The word 'felonía' exists but is rarely used in modern legal Spanish. Most Spanish-speaking legal systems classify crimes by severity rather than using the felony/misdemeanor distinction common in US law.
Say deh-LEE-toh GRAH-beh, with the stress on the second syllable of 'delito' and the first syllable of 'grave.'
Fue acusado de un delito grave y enfrenta varios años de prisión.
He was charged with a felony and faces several years in prison.
Felony in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for felony, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| delito grave | felony | deh-LEE-toh GRAH-beh | Default, widely understood |
| felonía | felony | used in some legal contexts, less common | |
| crimen | felony | used generally for a serious crime |
How Native Speakers Use Delito Grave
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Legal proceedings
El juez lo condenó por un delito grave de robo a mano armada.
The judge convicted him of an armed robbery felony.
Describing a court verdict.
News report
Los delitos graves incluyen homicidio, secuestro y tráfico de drogas.
Felonies include homicide, kidnapping, and drug trafficking.
A news segment about criminal law.
Background check
La empresa verifica que los candidatos no tengan antecedentes por delitos graves.
The company checks that candidates have no felony records.
Employment screening process.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Delito Grave
Using felonía directly
Incorrect: Cometió una felonía el año pasado.
Correct: Cometió un delito grave el año pasado.
While 'felonía' appears in dictionaries, it sounds archaic to most Spanish speakers. 'Delito grave' is the standard, widely understood term.
Confusing delito and crimen
Incorrect: Es un crimen leve.
Correct: Es un delito leve.
'Crimen' in Spanish typically implies a very serious crime like murder. For categorizing legal offenses by severity, 'delito' (grave or leve) is the standard legal term.
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See Delito Grave used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Felony in Spanish
- Do Spanish-speaking countries use the term felony?
- Most Spanish-speaking countries do not use the felony/misdemeanor classification, instead distinguishing between 'delitos graves' and 'delitos leves' or 'faltas' within their own legal frameworks.
- Is felonía ever used in modern Spanish?
- While the word exists, 'felonía' sounds outdated and is rarely encountered outside of historical or very formal legal texts, with 'delito grave' being the modern standard.
- What is the opposite of delito grave?
- The opposite is 'delito leve' or 'falta,' referring to minor offenses equivalent to misdemeanors in English, carrying lighter penalties.