Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Impeachment in Spanish
Juicio Político · noun · HWEE-see-oh poh-LEE-tee-koh
Impeachment translates to 'juicio político' (political trial) in most Spanish-speaking countries. In Chile, the formal term is 'acusación constitucional.' The concept of removing a president or official for misconduct exists throughout Latin American legal systems, though the specific procedures and terminology vary by constitution.
Say HWEE-see-oh poh-LEE-tee-koh. 'Juicio' has the guttural 'j' and the diphthong 'ui.' Stress falls on the first syllable of 'juicio' and the third syllable of 'político.'
El congreso aprobó el juicio político contra el presidente.
Congress approved the impeachment against the president.
Impeachment in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for impeachment, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| juicio político | impeachment | HWEE-see-oh poh-LEE-tee-koh | Default, widely understood |
| destitución | impeachment | removal from office | |
| acusación constitucional | impeachment | Chile |
How Native Speakers Use Juicio Político
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
News report
El juicio político podría resultar en la destitución del mandatario.
The impeachment could result in the removal of the leader.
Journalistic language describing potential political outcomes.
Historical reference
El proceso de destitución del presidente fue transmitido en vivo.
The president's impeachment process was broadcast live.
Using 'destitución' to emphasize the removal aspect of impeachment.
Legal discussion
La acusación constitucional requiere dos tercios de los votos.
The impeachment requires two-thirds of the votes.
Chilean terminology in a discussion about legislative procedures.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Juicio Político
Using 'impeachment' directly in Spanish
Incorrect: Le hicieron un impeachment al gobernador.
Correct: Le hicieron un juicio político al gobernador.
While some media may use the English loanword in headlines, formal Spanish requires the native translation 'juicio político' or regional equivalents in all standard communication.
Assuming impeachment equals removal
Incorrect: Lo sometieron a juicio político, así que ya no es presidente.
Correct: Lo sometieron a juicio político, pero falta la votación para destituirlo.
Like in the U.S. system, 'juicio político' is the accusation/trial process, not automatic removal. 'Destitución' (removal) is the potential outcome, not a guaranteed result of impeachment.
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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 Juicio Político used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using juicio político in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El congreso aprobó el juicio político contra el presidente. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Impeachment in Spanish
- Is the impeachment process the same across Latin America?
- Each country has its own constitutional mechanism for removing officials—Mexico uses 'juicio político' through Congress, Argentina has 'juicio político' through the Senate, Brazil uses 'impeachment' as a loanword in their Portuguese system, and Chile calls it 'acusación constitucional,' each with different voting thresholds and procedures.
- What's the difference between 'juicio político' and 'destitución'?
- A 'juicio político' is the process or trial itself (equivalent to impeachment proceedings), while 'destitución' is the actual removal from office that may result from that process—a president can face a juicio político without ultimately being destituido (removed).
- How often is 'juicio político' used in Latin American politics?
- Latin America has seen numerous high-profile impeachments including presidents in Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, and Ecuador in recent decades, making 'juicio político' a regularly appearing term in regional news media and political discourse across the continent.