When you have a sospecha, it means you think something might be wrong or not quite right, even if you don't have proof. It's like a hunch or a feeling in your gut that makes you question a situation or someone's actions. You might have a sospecha that your friend is planning a surprise party, for example. It's not a fact yet, just a strong feeling.
When you're learning Spanish at a B1 level, you're moving beyond basic survival phrases. Understanding words like "sospecha" is important because it allows you to express more nuanced ideas. It's not just about knowing the direct translation, but also grasping the situations where you would use it. This word is really useful for talking about doubts, suspicions, or when you have a gut feeling that something isn't quite right. Being able to use "sospecha" correctly helps you communicate more effectively and sound more like a native speaker.
§ Understanding 'Sospecha'
Alright, let's talk about the Spanish word sospecha. This isn't just a fancy academic term; it's something you'll hear in everyday conversations, especially when people are talking about things that don't quite add up. Think of it as a gut feeling, an intuition, or a suspicion that something isn't right. It's a very practical word to know.
- DEFINITION
- A feeling or impression that something is questionable or wrong.
The key here is that sospecha is often about something unconfirmed. You don't have proof, but you have that nagging feeling. It can be about a person, a situation, or even a piece of information. Let's look at some examples so you can start to get a feel for how it's used.
Tengo la sospecha de que algo anda mal.
Translation hint: I have the suspicion that something is wrong.
Su actitud levantó sospechas entre los empleados.
Translation hint: His attitude raised suspicions among the employees.
§ 'Sospecha' at Work
In a work environment, sospecha is common when there are concerns about ethics, performance, or even security. You might hear it in conversations about colleagues, projects, or company policies.
La gerencia tiene sospechas de fraude.
Translation hint: Management has suspicions of fraud.
No quiero levantar sospechas con mi ausencia.
Translation hint: I don't want to raise suspicions with my absence.
It's often used with verbs like tener (to have), levantar (to raise), or despertar (to awaken).
§ 'Sospecha' in School Settings
In schools, sospecha might come up if a teacher suspects a student of cheating, or if there's a rumor going around. It's about that feeling of doubt or mistrust.
El profesor tenía sospechas sobre la autenticidad del trabajo.
Translation hint: The professor had suspicions about the authenticity of the work.
Las sospechas de los estudiantes resultaron ser ciertas.
Translation hint: The students' suspicions turned out to be true.
§ 'Sospecha' in the News
News reports frequently use sospecha, especially in crime stories or political scandals. It's often associated with investigations and legal processes, indicating that something is being looked into due to perceived wrongdoing.
La policía actuó bajo sospecha de actividades ilegales.
Translation hint: The police acted under suspicion of illegal activities.
Existen sospechas de corrupción en el gobierno.
Translation hint: There are suspicions of corruption in the government.
As you can see, sospecha is a versatile word that fits into many different contexts. It's all about that feeling of doubt or distrust when something just doesn't feel right. Keep an ear out for it in your Spanish immersion, and you'll quickly pick up on its nuances.
§ Understanding 'Sospecha'
Alright, let's talk about sospecha. This word is super useful in Spanish, and it pops up a lot. It's a noun, and it means a feeling or impression that something is questionable or wrong. Think of it as a gut feeling that something isn't right, or a strong hunch. It's not necessarily proof, but rather that initial sense of doubt or concern.
- DEFINITION
- A feeling or impression that something is questionable or wrong.
You'll hear sospecha in everyday conversations, in news reports, and even in books. It's a key word for expressing doubt or suspicion. So, let's get into some examples to see how it works in context.
Tengo la sospecha de que algo no anda bien.
(I have the suspicion that something is not right.)
Su comportamiento generó mucha sospecha.
(His behavior generated a lot of suspicion.)
La policía investiga al sospechoso sin sospecha de culpabilidad aún.
(The police are investigating the suspect without suspicion of guilt yet.)
§ Common Uses of 'Sospecha'
You'll often see sospecha used with verbs like tener (to have), despertar (to awaken/arouse), or generar (to generate). It's all about the feeling of doubt or suspicion.
- Tener sospecha: To have a suspicion.
- Despertar sospecha: To arouse suspicion.
- Generar sospecha: To generate suspicion.
§ 'Sospecha' vs. Similar Words
Now, let's look at how sospecha stacks up against some other words that might seem similar but have slightly different nuances. This is where understanding the subtle differences really helps your Spanish sound natural.
Duda (doubt)
Duda is more general. It refers to a lack of certainty or conviction about something. You can have a duda about a fact, a decision, or even a person's honesty. It's a mental state of not being sure.
- DEFINITION
- Uncertainty, a lack of conviction or certainty.
Tengo dudas sobre su propuesta.
(I have doubts about his proposal.)
Recelo (mistrust, wariness)
Recelo is a stronger feeling than sospecha. It implies a deeper sense of mistrust or wariness, often stemming from past experiences or a more ingrained skepticism. When you have recelo, you're not just having a hunch; you're actively distrusting someone or something.
- DEFINITION
- Mistrust, wariness, apprehension.
Siento recelo hacia las intenciones del nuevo gerente.
(I feel mistrust towards the new manager's intentions.)
Presunción (assumption, presumption)
Presunción is about forming an opinion or belief based on probability or incomplete evidence. It's closer to an assumption. While a sospecha is a feeling that something is wrong, a presunción is more about forming a likely conclusion, even without all the facts.
- DEFINITION
- An assumption or presumption based on probability.
Hay una presunción de inocencia hasta que se pruebe lo contrario.
(There is a presumption of innocence until proven otherwise.)
§ When to Use 'Sospecha'
So, when should you reach for sospecha? Use it when you want to express:
- An initial feeling that something isn't right or is questionable.
- A hunch that leads you to believe someone might be doing something wrong.
- A general sense of doubt about the integrity or truthfulness of a situation, person, or statement.
It's that immediate 'something's off' feeling. It's less about concrete evidence and more about an instinctual or intuitive sense of doubt. Keep practicing with these examples, and you'll get the hang of it quickly!
How Formal Is It?
"La fiscalía tiene una fuerte sospecha sobre el acusado. (The prosecution has a strong suspicion about the accused.)"
"Tengo una duda sobre sus intenciones. (I have a doubt about his intentions.)"
"Me da un mosqueo su actitud. (His attitude makes me suspicious/gives me a bad feeling.)"
"Creo que tiene un secreto. (I think he has a secret.)"
"Hay mal rollo en esta situación. (There's a bad vibe/feeling in this situation.)"
قواعد يجب معرفتها
Nouns in Spanish have a gender (masculine or feminine). 'Sospecha' is a feminine noun, so it will typically be preceded by feminine articles like 'la' (the) or 'una' (a/an).
La sospecha creció con el tiempo. (The suspicion grew over time.)
To express 'a suspicion of something', you generally use the preposition 'de' (of) after 'sospecha'.
Tengo una sospecha de fraude. (I have a suspicion of fraud.)
When 'sospecha' is followed by a clause expressing what is suspected, the subjunctive mood is often used if the suspicion is not presented as a fact.
Ella tenía la sospecha de que él mintiera. (She had the suspicion that he might be lying.)
You can use 'sospecha' with verbs like 'despertar' (to awaken), 'levantar' (to raise), or 'infundir' (to instill) to describe the action of causing suspicion.
Su comportamiento despertó sospechas. (His behavior aroused suspicions.)
The plural form of 'sospecha' is 'sospechas'.
Había muchas sospechas sobre el caso. (There were many suspicions about the case.)
أمثلة حسب المستوى
Tengo una sospecha.
I have a suspicion.
Tener means 'to have'.
Ella tiene una sospecha.
She has a suspicion.
Ella means 'she'.
Hay una sospecha en el aire.
There is a suspicion in the air.
Hay means 'there is' or 'there are'.
Mi sospecha es correcta.
My suspicion is correct.
Mi means 'my'.
No tengo ninguna sospecha.
I don't have any suspicion.
Ninguna means 'none' or 'any'.
Su sospecha es rara.
His/Her suspicion is strange.
Su means 'his' or 'her' or 'your' (formal).
¿Tienes una sospecha?
Do you have a suspicion?
This is a question.
La policía tiene una sospecha.
The police have a suspicion.
La policía means 'the police'.
Tengo una sospecha de que algo no está bien.
I have a suspicion that something is not right.
Here, 'sospecha' is used with the verb 'tener' (to have).
La policía actuó bajo sospecha de fraude.
The police acted under suspicion of fraud.
The preposition 'bajo' (under) is used with 'sospecha'.
Su silencio levantó sospechas entre sus amigos.
His silence raised suspicions among his friends.
The verb 'levantar' (to raise) is often used with 'sospechas'.
No hay ninguna sospecha de que mienta.
There is no suspicion that he is lying.
Here, 'ninguna' (no/none) modifies 'sospecha'.
Una pequeña sospecha creció en mi mente.
A small suspicion grew in my mind.
The adjective 'pequeña' (small) describes 'sospecha'.
Ella tenía sospechas sobre la nueva persona.
She had suspicions about the new person.
Again, 'tener' (to have) is used with 'sospechas'.
Sus acciones confirmaron mis sospechas.
His actions confirmed my suspicions.
The verb 'confirmar' (to confirm) is used with 'sospechas'.
Es mejor actuar sin ninguna sospecha.
It's better to act without any suspicion.
The preposition 'sin' (without) is used with 'sospecha'.
La policía actuó rápidamente ante la primera sospecha de actividad ilegal.
The police acted quickly at the first suspicion of illegal activity.
Here, 'sospecha' is used with the preposition 'de' to indicate the object of suspicion.
Su constante silencio levantó sospechas entre sus amigos más cercanos.
His constant silence raised suspicions among his closest friends.
'Levantar sospechas' is a common idiom meaning 'to raise suspicions'.
No tengo ninguna sospecha de que haya mentido; siempre ha sido honesto conmigo.
I have no suspicion that he lied; he has always been honest with me.
'No tener ninguna sospecha' means 'to have no suspicion at all'.
A pesar de la sospecha inicial, no se encontraron pruebas que lo incriminaran.
Despite the initial suspicion, no evidence was found to incriminate him.
'A pesar de' means 'despite' and is followed by a noun or a verb in the infinitive.
Una leve sospecha cruzó su mente cuando vio la puerta entreabierta.
A slight suspicion crossed her mind when she saw the door ajar.
'Cruzar la mente' means 'to cross one's mind'.
El detective tenía una fuerte sospecha sobre el motivo del crimen.
The detective had a strong suspicion about the motive for the crime.
Adjectives like 'fuerte' (strong) can modify 'sospecha'.
Eliminaron cualquier sospecha de fraude después de una exhaustiva investigación.
They eliminated any suspicion of fraud after a thorough investigation.
'Eliminar sospechas' means 'to eliminate suspicions'.
Preferiría no actuar basándome solo en una sospecha; necesito pruebas concretas.
I would prefer not to act based only on a suspicion; I need concrete proof.
'Basarse en' means 'to be based on'.
يُخلط عادةً مع
While 'sospecha' can lead to an 'acusación' (accusation), they are distinct. 'Sospecha' is the feeling; 'acusación' is the formal charge.
The opposite of 'sospecha'. 'Certeeza' (certainty) means a firm conviction, whereas 'sospecha' implies lack of certainty.
A 'sospecha' can be confirmed, but it is not a confirmation itself. Confirmation provides evidence, while suspicion is the initial idea.
تعبيرات اصطلاحية
"levantar sospechas"
To raise suspicions. To cause people to suspect something.
Su comportamiento extraño empezó a levantar sospechas entre sus compañeros.
neutral"tener sospechas"
To have suspicions. To suspect something.
Tengo serias sospechas sobre la veracidad de su historia.
neutral"despertar sospechas"
To awaken suspicions. Similar to 'levantar sospechas'.
La repentina riqueza del político despertó sospechas de corrupción.
neutral"confirmar las sospechas"
To confirm suspicions. To find evidence that what was suspected is true.
La investigación finalmente confirmó las sospechas de la policía.
neutral"disipar las sospechas"
To clear up suspicions. To remove doubt or cause for suspicion.
Su explicación detallada ayudó a disipar nuestras sospechas.
neutral"más allá de toda sospecha"
Beyond all suspicion. Completely innocent or trustworthy.
El tesorero siempre ha sido considerado un hombre más allá de toda sospecha.
formal"sospecha infundada"
Unfounded suspicion. A suspicion that is not based on facts or evidence.
Resultó ser una sospecha infundada; el paquete solo contenía libros.
neutral"sembrar la sospecha"
To sow suspicion. To introduce doubt or distrust.
Los rumores comenzaron a sembrar la sospecha entre los miembros del equipo.
neutral"bajo sospecha"
Under suspicion. Being suspected of something.
Después del robo, todos los empleados estuvieron bajo sospecha.
neutral"caer en sospecha"
To fall under suspicion. To become suspected.
El nuevo empleado pronto cayó en sospecha por su actitud evasiva.
neutralسهل الخلط
Often confused with direct accusations. While 'sospecha' can lead to an accusation, it is fundamentally a suspicion or a feeling, not a direct charge.
Refers to the feeling or impression itself, rather than a proven fact or a formal accusation.
Tengo la sospecha de que alguien tomó mi almuerzo. (I have a suspicion that someone took my lunch.)
Both 'sospecha' and 'duda' imply uncertainty. However, 'duda' is a more general term for doubt about facts or truth.
'Duda' is about uncertainty regarding the truth or existence of something, while 'sospecha' specifically concerns something questionable or potentially wrong, often with a negative connotation.
Tengo dudas sobre si el pronóstico del tiempo es correcto. (I have doubts about whether the weather forecast is correct.)
Similar to 'sospecha' in expressing apprehension, but 'recelo' often implies a deeper, more ingrained mistrust or wariness towards a person or situation.
'Recelo' suggests a cautious distrust or apprehension, often based on past experience or a general feeling of unease. 'Sospecha' can be more immediate and related to a specific event or observation.
Siempre he tenido recelo de las promesas políticas. (I've always had a distrust of political promises.)
While 'presunción' can mean presumption or assumption, it can also refer to a 'suspicion' in a legal or formal context, which can be confusing.
In everyday use, 'presunción' leans towards an assumption without strong proof. When it does mean suspicion, it often carries a more formal or legal implication than 'sospecha', which is more common for personal feelings.
Existe una presunción de inocencia hasta que se demuestre lo contrario. (There is a presumption of innocence until proven otherwise.)
A less common word for suspicion, which can cause confusion when encountered, especially because it's often used with an archaic or literary feel.
'Barrunto' is a synonym for 'sospecha' but is much less frequently used in modern Spanish. It typically refers to a vague presentiment or inkling.
Tenía un barrunto de que algo malo iba a pasar. (I had an inkling that something bad was going to happen.)
اختبر نفسك 54 أسئلة
Yo tengo una ___.
The sentence means 'I have a suspicion.' 'Sospecha' is the correct word for 'suspicion.'
Ella tiene ___.
The sentence means 'She has a suspicion.' 'Sospecha' fits here.
Él tiene una ___.
The sentence means 'He has a suspicion.' 'Sospecha' is the correct choice.
Nosotros tenemos una ___.
The sentence means 'We have a suspicion.' 'Sospecha' completes the sentence correctly.
Ellos tienen una ___.
The sentence means 'They have a suspicion.' 'Sospecha' is the right word.
Ustedes tienen una ___.
The sentence means 'You all have a suspicion.' 'Sospecha' is the correct answer.
Write a short sentence about something you see that makes you wonder. Use simple words.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Veo un gato grande y pienso, ¿qué hace aquí?
Imagine you see a strange object. Write one sentence describing it.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
El objeto es raro, es de color azul.
Write one sentence about a person doing something unusual.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
La persona come helado en la mañana.
¿Qué hace el perro?
Read this passage:
El perro está en el parque. No hay nadie más. El perro ladra mucho. ¿Por qué ladra el perro?
¿Qué hace el perro?
The passage says 'El perro ladra mucho,' meaning the dog barks a lot.
The passage says 'El perro ladra mucho,' meaning the dog barks a lot.
¿De qué color es la mochila de mi amigo?
Read this passage:
Mi amigo tiene una mochila grande. La mochila es roja. Dentro de la mochila hay un libro. ¿De qué color es la mochila?
¿De qué color es la mochila de mi amigo?
The passage states 'La mochila es roja,' meaning the backpack is red.
The passage states 'La mochila es roja,' meaning the backpack is red.
¿Cuántas ventanas tiene la casa?
Read this passage:
La casa es pequeña. Tiene dos ventanas. Un pájaro canta en el árbol cerca de la casa. ¿Cuántas ventanas tiene la casa?
¿Cuántas ventanas tiene la casa?
The passage says 'Tiene dos ventanas,' indicating the house has two windows.
The passage says 'Tiene dos ventanas,' indicating the house has two windows.
This sentence means 'She has a suspicion.'
This sentence means 'I don't have any suspicion.'
This sentence means 'The suspicion is big.'
Choose the best translation for 'sospecha'.
'Sospecha' means suspicion, a feeling that something is wrong.
Which sentence uses 'sospecha' correctly?
The sentence 'Ella tenía una sospecha sobre el regalo' correctly uses 'sospecha' to indicate a feeling of doubt or suspicion.
What is a synonym for 'sospecha'?
'Duda' means doubt, which is very similar to 'sospecha' in meaning.
If you have a 'sospecha', you are sure about something.
Having a 'sospecha' means you have a feeling that something is questionable or wrong, not that you are sure.
You can have a 'sospecha' about a person.
Yes, you can have a 'sospecha' about a person, meaning you might suspect they did something wrong or are hiding something.
'Sospecha' is a verb.
'Sospecha' is a noun, meaning 'suspicion'. The verb form is 'sospechar'.
The word you just heard is related to doubt or a feeling that something is wrong.
The word you just heard means suspicions.
The word you just heard means suspicion.
Read this aloud:
Tengo una sospecha sobre el clima de mañana.
Focus: sos-PE-cha
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
No me gusta esa sospecha.
Focus: sos-PE-cha
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Es solo una sospecha, no es seguro.
Focus: sos-PE-cha
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Listen for the feeling of something being wrong.
Pay attention to the outcome of the suspicion.
Focus on what the speaker doesn't want to create.
Read this aloud:
La policía actuó bajo la sospecha de fraude.
Focus: sospecha
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Mi primera sospecha fue que me habían mentido.
Focus: primera sospecha
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
No hay ninguna sospecha de irregularidad.
Focus: ninguna sospecha
قلت:
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What motivated the police's actions?
How did her voice sound regarding my intentions?
Is there a basis for the suspicion?
Read this aloud:
Tengo una fuerte sospecha de que algo no está bien.
Focus: sos-PE-cha
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
La sospecha creció con cada nueva evidencia.
Focus: cre-CIÓ
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Despertó la sospecha en todos los presentes.
Focus: des-per-TÓ
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
The persistent suspicion of electoral fraud.
The population maintained a deep suspicion about the true magnitude of the health crisis.
The sudden cancellation of the project fueled suspicion that hidden interests were manipulating government decisions.
Read this aloud:
Tras años de servicio impecable, la infundada sospecha de malversación de fondos arruinó su reputación profesional, dejándolo en una situación insostenible.
Focus: insostenible
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
La constante sospecha entre las facciones políticas imposibilitó cualquier intento de diálogo constructivo, perpetuando un ciclo de estancamiento y confrontación.
Focus: facciones políticas
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Su mirada evasiva y su lenguaje corporal tenso solo sirvieron para confirmar mis sospechas sobre su implicación en el complot.
Focus: lenguaje corporal
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence describes how the manager's sudden resignation created suspicion among the employees. 'Sospechas' is the plural form of 'sospecha'.
This sentence emphasizes the lingering feeling of suspicion even without concrete evidence. 'Sospecha' here is used in its singular form.
This sentence illustrates how law enforcement can operate based on a 'reasonable suspicion' of illegal activity.
/ 54 correct
Perfect score!
محتوى ذو صلة
قواعد ذات صلة
مزيد من كلمات emotions
a diferencia de
B1Unlike; in contrast to.
abatido
B1Feeling or showing great sadness or discouragement; dejected.
abatimiento
B2State of being low in spirits; dejection or depression.
abatir
B1To make someone feel dejected or disheartened.
abierto/a de mente
B2Open-minded; willing to consider new ideas; unprejudiced.
aborrecer
B1To regard with disgust and hatred; to loathe.
abrazar
A1To put one's arms around someone as a sign of affection.
abrazo
A1An act of holding someone closely in one's arms; a hug.
abrumador
B1Overpowering; very great or intense.
abrumar
B1To overwhelm (someone) with a large amount of something.
