Como se dice "Benefit of the doubt" in Spanish?

Question

Yo creía que se podía decir , " el beneficio de la duda." Pero una colega de hablaespañola dijo que no. ¿Qué opinan? Gracias.

Siembre oí en español " el beneficio de la duda". Soy native Spanich speaker. - polenta1, Jul 13, 2017

Es un término que se usa normalmente pero todavía más en derecho. - polenta1, Jul 13, 2017

Siembre? - escritoraEEUU, Jul 13, 2017

No, no siempre en derecho. También en general pero probablemente nunca cuando es muy, muy coloquial. - polenta1, Jul 13, 2017

A propósito, tu nombre de usuario "escribante" es una elección tuya y la respeto, pero en idioma español tenemos la palabra escribano o notario. (notary públic) - polenta1, Jul 13, 2017

Quizás tu eres escribana? - polenta1, Jul 13, 2017

Gracias. Esto ayuda mucho. Y voy a cambiar mi nombre de pantalla. No se de donde saque escribante.. - escritoraEEUU, Jul 14, 2017

No existe pero tú la puedes inventar.... jaja - polenta1, Jul 16, 2017

Answer 1

You're quite right, if in doubt you can always google your expression and see if it appears, with over 10 million hits you it's a pretty safe bet that you're on to something

Gracias. - escritoraEEUU, Jul 12, 2017

Answer 2

To give someone the benefit of the doubt

I found this just by searching SpanishDict.

Initially, it seemed weird to me (as I take this as a sort of English idiom and they seldom translate well into Spanish), but according to the link I provided, it's found in a few dictionaries as the translation you provided.

"Pero una colega de hablaespañola dijo que no."

I would say "Pero una colega hispanohablante dijo que no."

My only problem with people who are native speakers or who speak Spanish as a second language, myself included, is that many, if not all, think that they know everything about the language (some might). Being a native speaker can give you a lot of 'street cred', but I know many native speakers who: 1) don't know what a conjugation is, 2) mess up on the spelling and/or pronunciation of the most basic words, 3) have no concept of how to properly use the subjunctive, 4) use slang and colloquialisms as if they are universal to the language. The list could go on and on, but I digress. My point is, it is EXTREMELY important to get second and even third opinions. Dominicans told me that "coger" means to grab (like to grab a fork). Mexicans told me that it means the f-word. If I relied on the opinion of the Dominicans, I might be in deep with Mexicans.

@CodyAndrews1993, I edited the html link that you provided so that it's clickable. - NKM1974, Jul 12, 2017

My friend is the daughter of Spanish speaking people who insisted she speak and write it well. So her credentials are not in doubt. I just wanted to get another opinion. Thanks. - escritoraEEUU, Jul 13, 2017

Answer 3

"El beneficio de la duda" is 100% correct to me. I have used this expression my entire life and I cannot think of a better translation.

Maybe you can tell us what alternative you Spanish friend gave you. I would like to know what's the correct translation according to her.

Will let you know. - escritoraEEUU, Jul 13, 2017

Answer 4

Hi escribante, For me "el beneficio de la duda" is correct. It is use with the verb "dar". "Dar el beneficio de la duda".

De acuerdo, Mmartin. Y.... "It is used with...." - DonBigoteDeLaLancha, Jul 13, 2017

Answer 5

Hi escibante, your sentence exists.

However ....can you give us some context ?

Context: I gave her the the benefit of the doubt. - escritoraEEUU, Jul 13, 2017

Answer 6

Hi, amigo escribiente:

Context: I gave her the the benefit of the doubt. - escribanteUS

I asked for context as your English expression has a direct translation into Spanish, so I have no idea why your friend said " ¿qué opinan"

That means: ¿What's your opinion"...which has nothing to do with your original sentence.

Answer 7

Tenemos las palabras derivadas del verbo escribir:

! escribano/a._ profesional que estudió notariado.
2 escriba._ generalmente quienes escribìan en tabletas o papiros sobre los hechos de reyes mesopotámicos, faraones etc.
3 escritor/a:_ persona que escribe libros, poemas, cuentos etc.
4 escribiente_ muchas veces es un asistente de un escribano. No es una palabra muy usada y yo no la conozco bien.

Pueden haber otras palabras pero yo las desconozco.

Answer 8

Maybe you can tell us what alternative you Spanish friend gave you. I would like to know what's the correct translation according to her.

That's what I would like to know.

I actually thought she had said "¿qué opinan", which def threw me...I misread that however.

anyway, what alternative did she give?

Answer 9

Hello!

Here are two previously discussed thread, from 2010 & 2013, regarding "benefit of the doubt".

• To give someone the benefit of the doubt
• Benefit of the doubt.

Hope this helps.

Regards!