How do you say 'cops' in Spanish?
how do you say cops in spanish?
8 Answers
La poli, la bofia, la pasma, los maderos
'La poli' is not really a slang word, although it is a tad more informal than cops. Informal enough that unlike 'cops', which is extensively used in the news, you would never find 'la poli' in a Spanish newspaper, unless they are quoting someone. However it isn't offensive: anyone in Spain would refer to the police as 'la poli' without thinking twice, and it is frequently used on TV and movies.
Slang terms for 'police' in Spain would be 'la pasma', 'los maderos', 'la bofia' (this one is probably not used much anymore, though). These are the typical words used in poor neighborhoods, by delinquents and criminals. 'Picoletos' is used only for the Spanish gendarmerie, 'la Guardia Civil'.
COP is an abreviation for Constable on Patrol, so it can't really be translated.
Slang usage in Mexico City: Poli, La trulla, Los Tamarindos (traffic cops in brown uniforms), Los Judis (policía judicial del DF) and you don´t ever want to have anything to do with these guys.
I believe la poli is a way of saying it with a similar level of formality in Spanish. However, I've never actually heard this expression used in actual conversation; I've only read in in a dictionary.
Something similar to "The Fuzz" or "old Bill" which is heard over here.
Just a few
poli mf (fam), tira mf (Méx fam), cana mf (RPl arg), cachaco, -ca m,f (Per fam), paco, -ca m,f (Chi fam); puerco, cochino, azul, tombo, cinco zero 5.0(refering to the engine size of the Fords the police commonly drive in the US).
I'd imagine that's the kind of slang word that varies a lot. It varies by neighborhood in Los Angeles in English.
Poli is used in Spain mostly, and is kind of disrespectful, not that much but.. Policía is correct,
