delito
nounCEFR B2
What does “delito” mean in English?
1.offence, crime — an act that breaks the law and is punishable
offence, crime — an act that breaks the law and is punishable (cometer un delito; delito fiscal)
2.crime/offence — a specific act that violates criminal law
crime/offence — a specific act that violates criminal law (cometer un delito, el delito de estafa, el delito flagrante)
Example sentences
La evasión fiscal es un delito que merma los recursos del Estado y perjudica a todos los ciudadanos.
Tax evasion is a crime that depletes state resources and harms every citizen.
El acusado fue declarado culpable del delito de malversación de fondos públicos.
The defendant was found guilty of the offence of misappropriation of public funds.
Denunciar un delito no debería implicar riesgos para quien lo hace, pero en la práctica a menudo los implica.
Reporting a crime should not involve risks for the person doing so, but in practice it often does.
How to use it
El delito means 'crime' or 'offence' — a specific act that violates criminal law. At B2 it is the standard legal term in journalism and judicial discourse. Key collocations: cometer un delito, el delito de estafa/fraude/acoso, perseguir/sancionar/denunciar un delito, el delito flagrante (caught in the act). Distinguish from crimen (crime — in Spanish this is specifically a serious crime, especially homicide: el crimen organizado, un crimen de odio) and from falta (misdemeanour — a minor infraction).
Common mistake
In Spanish, crimen is NOT the neutral word for 'crime' — it specifically refers to a grave offence, especially murder or organised crime. The general legal term for a criminal act is delito. 'Crime rate' = tasa de delincuencia or tasa de criminalidad. 'Committed a crime' = cometió un delito (standard) or cometió un crimen (only for serious crimes). 'Crime scene' = escena del crimen (this compound uses crimen even for the dramatic sense).