Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Warrant in Spanish
Orden · noun · OHR-dehn
The Spanish word for warrant in a legal context is 'orden,' short for 'orden judicial' (judicial order). Specific types include 'orden de arresto' (arrest warrant) and 'orden de registro' or 'orden de cateo' (search warrant).
Pronounce 'orden' as OHR-dehn. The stress falls on the first syllable, and the 'd' is soft.
La policía necesita una orden para entrar a la casa.
The police need a warrant to enter the house.
warrant in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for warrant, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| orden | warrant | OHR-dehn | Default, widely understood |
| orden de arresto | warrant | arrest warrant | |
| orden de registro | warrant | search warrant | |
| mandamiento judicial | warrant | formal legal term |
How Native Speakers Use Orden
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Arrest warrant
El juez emitió una orden de arresto contra el sospechoso.
The judge issued an arrest warrant for the suspect.
A legal proceeding.
Search warrant
Sin una orden de registro, no pueden revisar la propiedad.
Without a search warrant, they cannot search the property.
Discussing legal rights.
General usage
Tiene una orden pendiente en su contra.
There is a pending warrant against him.
Describing an outstanding legal order.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Orden
Using 'garantía' instead of 'orden'
Incorrect: La policía tiene una garantía de arresto.
Correct: La policía tiene una orden de arresto.
'Garantía' means guarantee or warranty (for products), not a legal warrant. The correct legal term is 'orden.'
Wrong gender for legal 'orden'
Incorrect: El orden de registro fue aprobada.
Correct: La orden de registro fue aprobada.
When 'orden' means a command or warrant, it is feminine ('la orden'). It is only masculine ('el orden') when meaning order as in sequence or tidiness.
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Common Questions About warrant in Spanish
- Is 'orden' masculine or feminine?
- The gender of 'orden' depends on meaning — 'la orden' (feminine) refers to a command, decree, or warrant, while 'el orden' (masculine) means order in the sense of sequence or organization.
- How do you say 'search warrant' versus 'arrest warrant'?
- An arrest warrant is 'orden de arresto' or 'orden de aprehensión,' while a search warrant is 'orden de registro' or 'orden de cateo,' with 'cateo' being common in Mexico.
- What is a 'mandamiento judicial'?
- A 'mandamiento judicial' is a formal legal term for a court order or judicial warrant, used primarily in legal documents and formal proceedings.