presunto

alleged

adjective preh-SOON-toh Less Common

Origin: From Latin praesumptus, past participle of praesumere (to assume beforehand).

Also means

presumed

Usage Note

Presunto is a legal and journalistic term meaning 'alleged' or 'suspected', used before a charge is proven — el presunto asesino (the alleged killer). Spanish journalists are required by style guides to use presunto to preserve the presumption of innocence before conviction. It always precedes the noun. Do not confuse with supuesto, which means 'supposed' in a wider, non-legal sense.

Examples

"El presunto ladrón fue detenido anoche."

Natural Translation

The alleged thief was arrested last night.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Preterite vs. Imperfect: Spanish Past Tense Made Easy

Preterite vs. imperfect: use the preterite for finished events, the imperfect for ongoing scenery. A trigger-word cheat sheet, flowchart, and examples.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Object Pronouns: Lo, La, Le & Se Made Simple

Use lo/la for the direct object and le for the indirect — and le becomes se before lo/la. Master Spanish object pronouns with one simple verb test.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

How to Say "You" in Spanish: Tú, Usted, Vos & Vosotros

Spanish has five words for "you": tú, usted, vos, vosotros, and ustedes. Learn which to use by who you're talking to and where — plus the verb endings.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

You're Welcome in Spanish: Beyond De Nada

You're welcome in Spanish is more than de nada. Learn con gusto, no hay de qué, a la orden and more — and which to use by region and how formal the moment is.

June 3, 2026 6 min read