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"Poli" is a form of "poli", a noun which is often translated as "cop". "Madero" is a noun which is often translated as "piece of timber". Learn more about the difference between "madero" and "poli" below.
el madero(
mah
-
deh
-
roh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
a. piece of timber
Para construir la caseta del perro necesitamos varios maderos y clavos.We need several pieces of timber and some nails to build the dog's kennel.
b. timber
En caso de huracán habrá que clavar unos maderos en las ventanas.If there's hurricane we'll have to nail some timbers over the windows.
2. (slang) (cop) (Spain)
A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. pig (pejorative)
An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (e.g., redneck).
Me pillaron los maderos y me metieron en el calabozo.I was caught by the pigs and they put me in jail.
3. (nautical)
a. ship
El madero se hizo a la mar con el viento más favorable que podrían haber esperado.The ship set sail with as favourable a wind as they could wish for.
el poli, la poli(
poh
-
lee
)This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
1. (colloquial) (police officer)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. cop (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Mi hermano es poli y tiene un gran sentido de la justicia.My brother is a cop and he has a great sense of justice.
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
2. (colloquial) (police)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. cops (colloquial) (plural)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
La poli detuvo al ladrón con las manos en la masa.The cops caught the thief red-handed.
