Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Pedophile in Spanish: Clinical and Legal Translation Reference
Pedófilo / Pedófila · noun (masculine / feminine) · peh-DOH-fee-loh / peh-DOH-fee-lah
Pedophile in Spanish is pedófilo (masculine) or pedófila (feminine). This is the clinical and legal term used in news reporting, court proceedings, and educational materials. The related word pederasta refers specifically to someone who has committed acts of abuse and appears frequently in journalism.
Pronounce pedófilo as peh-DOH-fee-loh. The stress falls on the second syllable (dó). The word is esdrújula (stressed on the antepenultimate syllable), so it always carries a written accent.
El pedófilo fue condenado a veinte años de prisión.
The pedophile was sentenced to twenty years in prison.
Pedophile in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for pedophile, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| pedófilo / pedófila | pedophile | peh-DOH-fee-loh / peh-DOH-fee-lah | Default, widely understood |
| pederasta | pedophile | used in legal and journalistic contexts; sometimes informal synonym |
How Native Speakers Use Pedófilo / Pedófila
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
News reporting
La policía arrestó a un presunto pedófilo en la capital.
Police arrested a suspected pedophile in the capital.
Standard phrasing in Spanish-language news coverage.
Legal proceedings
El juez dictó sentencia contra el pederasta confeso.
The judge handed down a sentence against the confessed offender.
Pederasta appears in legal and journalistic registers.
Public awareness context
Las campañas de prevención buscan identificar conductas de pedófilos.
Prevention campaigns aim to identify pedophilic behaviors.
Educational and institutional usage of the term.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Pedófilo / Pedófila
Omitting the accent on pedófilo
Incorrect: Es un pedofilo convicto.
Correct: Es un pedófilo convicto.
Pedófilo is an esdrújula word — the accent on the ó is mandatory in written Spanish. Without it, the stress shifts and the spelling is incorrect.
Confusing pedófilo and pederasta as exact synonyms
Incorrect: Pedófilo y pederasta significan exactamente lo mismo.
Correct: Pedófilo describe la condición; pederasta se refiere a quien comete el acto.
In clinical usage, pedófilo refers to the psychological condition, while pederasta refers to someone who has committed abusive acts. Media sometimes conflates the two, but the distinction exists.
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See Pedófilo / Pedófila used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Pedophile in Spanish
- How do you say pedophile in Spanish?
- The clinical and legal term is pedófilo (masculine) or pedófila (feminine). In journalism, pederasta is also commonly used.
- What is the difference between pedófilo and pederasta?
- Pedófilo refers to the clinical condition (attraction to minors), while pederasta refers to someone who has committed abusive acts against minors. In everyday media, the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but the technical distinction exists in legal and clinical contexts.
- Is pedófilo an esdrújula word?
- Pedófilo carries stress on the antepenultimate syllable (pe-DÓ-fi-lo), classifying it as an esdrújula word. Every esdrújula in Spanish requires a mandatory written accent mark.