culpable
Lemma Details
Translation: guilty; culpable; blameworthy; responsible; at fault
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: From Latin 'culpabilis', derived from 'culpa' meaning 'fault, blame, guilt'. The English cognate 'culpable' shares the same Latin root. The word has maintained its core meaning of 'deserving blame' since Latin times, emphasizing the concept of moral or legal responsibility for wrongdoing.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 90%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El jurado declaró culpable al acusado.
The jury found the defendant guilty.
Me siento culpable por no haber llamado a mi madre.
I feel guilty for not having called my mother.
No eres culpable de sus errores.
You are not responsible for their mistakes.
El conductor fue declarado culpable del accidente.
The driver was found at fault for the accident.
Mnemonics
- Think of the English word 'culpable' which means the same thing.
- Remember 'culpa' (fault) + '-able' (capable of) = capable of being at fault.
- Visualize someone saying 'It's my culpa' (mixing Spanish and English) when admitting guilt.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish legal contexts, 'culpable' is the formal verdict in criminal proceedings, equivalent to 'guilty' in English-speaking courts. The concept of 'culpabilidad' (culpability) is central to Spanish legal philosophy and moral discussions.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Culpable' is an adjective meaning 'guilty', while 'culpar' is a verb meaning 'to blame'.
Notes: The noun form related to 'culpable' is 'culpabilidad' (guilt), while the noun form related to 'culpar' is 'culpa' (blame).
Mnemonic: 'Culpable' ends in '-able' like many adjectives (comparable, reliable), while 'culpar' ends in '-ar' like many verbs (hablar, cantar).
Explanation: While 'culpable' means 'guilty', 'capaz' means 'capable' or 'able'. They may sound somewhat similar to English speakers but have completely different meanings.
Notes: Both are adjectives but belong to entirely different semantic fields.
Mnemonic: Remember 'capaz' relates to 'capacity' (ability), while 'culpable' relates to 'culpability' (guilt).