Self-defense — in Spanish and Italian.

Definition

Justified use of force to protect oneself or others.

Spanish and Italian equivalents

In Spanish, Self-defense is rendered as Legítima defensa; in Italian, as Legittima difesa. Spanish equivalents follow Argentine (Rioplatense) usage where it differs from European Spanish. In a certified translation the equivalent is chosen for the target jurisdiction; where the concept has no exact counterpart, the source term is kept alongside a functional explanation.

Translating Criminal Law & Procedure terminology

Criminal procedure is built differently on each side of the Atlantic. Spanish-speaking systems and Italy work with an investigating judge or prosecutor-led instrucción/indagini preliminari, and distinctions such as imputado, procesado and acusado, or indagato and imputato, mark stages that U.S. law describes with "suspect" and "defendant". Offence categories (delito/falta, delitto/contravvenzione) do not line up with felony and misdemeanor. Certified translations of criminal records, judgments and police reports — the documents most often requested for immigration and background checks — keep the original label and add the nearest English description.

Related terms in Criminal Law & Procedure

• Crime / Offense — Delito
• Felony / Serious crime — Crimen / Delito grave
• Misdemeanor / Petty offense — Contravención / Falta
• Accused / Defendant — Imputado / Acusado
• Suspect — Sospechoso / Sindicado
• Victim — Víctima
• Complainant — Querellante / Denunciante
• Charge / Indictment — Acusación / Imputación
• Arraignment — Audiencia de imputación / Indagatoria
• Arrest — Detención / Arresto
• Detention / Custody — Detención / Prisión preventiva
• Pre-trial detention — Prisión preventiva
• Bail — Fianza / Excarcelación
• Remand — Prisión / Remisión
• Investigation — Investigación / Instrucción
• Search — Allanamiento / Registro
• Seizure — Secuestro / Decomiso
• Warrant — Orden judicial / Mandamiento
• Arrest warrant — Orden de detención / captura
• Search warrant — Orden de allanamiento
• Indictment / Committal — Auto de procesamiento / elevación a juicio
• Plea — Declaración / Alegato del imputado
• Guilty / Guilt — Culpable / Culpabilidad
• Not guilty / Acquittal — Absolución
• Conviction — Condena
• Sentence / Penalty — Pena / Condena
• Imprisonment — Reclusión / Prisión
• Fine — Multa
• Probation — Probation / Suspensión del juicio a prueba
• Parole / Conditional release — Libertad condicional
• Pardon / Clemency — Indulto / Gracia
• Amnesty — Amnistía
• Statute of limitations (criminal) — Prescripción de la acción penal
• Intent / Mens rea — Dolo / Intención
• Negligence (criminal) — Culpa / Negligencia
• Attempt — Tentativa
• Accomplice — Cómplice / Partícipe
• Aiding and abetting — Participación criminal
• Theft — Hurto / Robo
• Robbery — Robo (con violencia)
• Fraud (criminal) — Estafa / Fraude
• Embezzlement — Malversación / Defraudación
• Bribery / Corruption — Cohecho / Soborno / Corrupción
• Money laundering — Lavado de dinero / activos
• Assault / Battery — Lesiones / Agresión
• Homicide / Murder — Homicidio
• Manslaughter — Homicidio culposo
• Kidnapping — Secuestro / Privación de la libertad
• Perjury — Falso testimonio / Perjurio
• Forgery — Falsificación
• Defamation — Difamación / Calumnias e injurias
• Contempt of court — Desacato
• Recidivism — Reincidencia
• Presumption of innocence — Presunción de inocencia
• Reasonable doubt — Duda razonable
• Double jeopardy — Doble juzgamiento / non bis in idem
• Accessory — Encubridor
• Conspiracy — Asociación ilícita / Conspiración
• Extortion — Extorsión
• Arson — Incendio intencional
• Trafficking — Tráfico / Trata
• Cybercrime — Delito informático
• Restraining order — Orden de restricción / protección
• Witness protection — Protección de testigos
• Plea bargain — Juicio abreviado / Acuerdo de pena

Browse the full Criminal Law & Procedure area, return to the dictionary index, or search all 712 terms in the interactive dictionary (also available as a PDF).

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This page is for general orientation only. It is not legal advice and does not substitute for advice from licensed counsel in the relevant jurisdiction. Terminology varies between countries and between civil-law and common-law systems; the equivalents shown here are the most common in cross-border practice.