sentencia

sentence

noun sen-TEN-syah Less Common

Origin: from Latin sententia (opinion, judgment)

Also means

judgment

Usage Note

Sentencia in legal contexts means a court ruling or sentence (dictar sentencia — to pass judgment). In literary or philosophical use it also means a maxim or aphorism. It is a false friend trap: English 'sentence' (grammatical) is oración or frase in Spanish, not sentencia. The verb sentenciar means to sentence (a convicted person).

Examples

"El juez dictó sentencia esta mañana."

Natural Translation

The judge passed sentence this morning.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Spanish Subjunctive Explained Simply for Beginners

The Spanish subjunctive is a mood, not a tense — use it after a WEIRDO trigger plus que. Learn the one rule, the yo-form recipe, and the lines you already say.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

SpanishNow

How to Roll Your Rs in Spanish (Even If You Can't Yet)

Roll your Rs in Spanish by building from the butter sound you already make, then adding airflow. A step-by-step method, minimal pairs, and self-check drills.

June 3, 2026 7 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

SpanishNow

Spanish Numbers 1-100: Count, Spell & Pronounce

Spanish numbers 1 to 100 are a system, not a list: three patterns build every number. Master the spelling, the accent rule, and how to say prices fast.

June 9, 2026 6 min read