Spanish Conversation · Level 54
75 words
Spanish word
ilegal
Pronunciation
IPA/ileˈɣal/
Meaning
- adjectiveillegal
Example
¿Es eso ilegal?
Is that illegal?
More examples
Descubrieron una red de trabajo ilegal en la ciudad.
They discovered a network of illegal employment in the city.
Core concept
An act prohibited by law.
Common phrases
inmigración ilegal
illegal immigration
trabajo ilegal
illegal employment
actividad ilegal
illegal activity
Similar words
prohibido: Forbidden by a rule or by those in authority and officially not allowed.
ilícito: Contrary to legal statutes and subject to criminal or civil prosecution.
clandestino: Hidden or secret, carried out to avoid public notice or detection.
Definition in Spanish
Que contraviene la ley o las normas jurídicas establecidas.
Word origin
Ilegal derives from Latin illegalis, combining the negative prefix in- and legalis 'relating to the law', and it enters Spanish through medieval Romance.
Usage tips
- In everyday speech ilegal can sound harsh, so speakers often prefer phrases like no es legal or no está permitido to soften the statement.
Opposites
- legallegaladjective
Related words
- ilegalidadillegalitynoun
- ilegalmenteillegallyadverb