⚖️ Legal English
Legal and official vocabulary can be useful when discussing documents, government procedures, immigration, or other formal situations in English. The exact terminology may vary between English-speaking countries. This lesson is for language-learning purposes only and does not provide legal or immigration advice.
🟢 Common Legal & Official Vocabulary
⚖️ Law
🇪🇸 Spanish: Ley
🇫🇷 French: Loi
🇩🇪 German: Gesetz
🇮🇹 Italian: Legge
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Lei
🇪🇸 Spanish: Ley
🇫🇷 French: Loi
🇩🇪 German: Gesetz
🇮🇹 Italian: Legge
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Lei
👮 Police
🇪🇸 Spanish: Policía
🇫🇷 French: Police
🇩🇪 German: Polizei
🇮🇹 Italian: Polizia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Polícia
🇪🇸 Spanish: Policía
🇫🇷 French: Police
🇩🇪 German: Polizei
🇮🇹 Italian: Polizia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Polícia
📄 Document
🇪🇸 Spanish: Documento
🇫🇷 French: Document
🇩🇪 German: Dokument
🇮🇹 Italian: Documento
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Documento
🇪🇸 Spanish: Documento
🇫🇷 French: Document
🇩🇪 German: Dokument
🇮🇹 Italian: Documento
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Documento
🪪 Identification
🇪🇸 Spanish: Identificación
🇫🇷 French: Pièce d'identité / Identification
🇩🇪 German: Ausweis / Identifikation
🇮🇹 Italian: Documento d'identità
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Identificação
🇪🇸 Spanish: Identificación
🇫🇷 French: Pièce d'identité / Identification
🇩🇪 German: Ausweis / Identifikation
🇮🇹 Italian: Documento d'identità
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Identificação
🏛️ Court
🇪🇸 Spanish: Tribunal
🇫🇷 French: Tribunal
🇩🇪 German: Gericht
🇮🇹 Italian: Tribunale
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tribunal
🇪🇸 Spanish: Tribunal
🇫🇷 French: Tribunal
🇩🇪 German: Gericht
🇮🇹 Italian: Tribunale
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tribunal
👨⚖️ Judge
🇪🇸 Spanish: Juez / Jueza
🇫🇷 French: Juge
🇩🇪 German: Richter / Richterin
🇮🇹 Italian: Giudice
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Juiz / Juíza
🇪🇸 Spanish: Juez / Jueza
🇫🇷 French: Juge
🇩🇪 German: Richter / Richterin
🇮🇹 Italian: Giudice
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Juiz / Juíza
💼 Lawyer
🇪🇸 Spanish: Abogado / Abogada
🇫🇷 French: Avocat / Avocate
🇩🇪 German: Anwalt / Anwältin
🇮🇹 Italian: Avvocato / Avvocatessa
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Advogado / Advogada
🇪🇸 Spanish: Abogado / Abogada
🇫🇷 French: Avocat / Avocate
🇩🇪 German: Anwalt / Anwältin
🇮🇹 Italian: Avvocato / Avvocatessa
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Advogado / Advogada
📁 Case
🇪🇸 Spanish: Caso
🇫🇷 French: Affaire / Cas
🇩🇪 German: Fall / Verfahren
🇮🇹 Italian: Caso
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Caso
🇪🇸 Spanish: Caso
🇫🇷 French: Affaire / Cas
🇩🇪 German: Fall / Verfahren
🇮🇹 Italian: Caso
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Caso
🟡 Documents & Official Procedures
🛂 Passport
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pasaporte
🇫🇷 French: Passeport
🇩🇪 German: Reisepass
🇮🇹 Italian: Passaporto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Passaporte
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pasaporte
🇫🇷 French: Passeport
🇩🇪 German: Reisepass
🇮🇹 Italian: Passaporto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Passaporte
✈️ Visa
🇪🇸 Spanish: Visa / Visado
🇫🇷 French: Visa
🇩🇪 German: Visum
🇮🇹 Italian: Visto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Visto
Usage varies by country.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Visa / Visado
🇫🇷 French: Visa
🇩🇪 German: Visum
🇮🇹 Italian: Visto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Visto
Usage varies by country.
📑 Signature
🇪🇸 Spanish: Firma
🇫🇷 French: Signature
🇩🇪 German: Unterschrift
🇮🇹 Italian: Firma
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Assinatura
🇪🇸 Spanish: Firma
🇫🇷 French: Signature
🇩🇪 German: Unterschrift
🇮🇹 Italian: Firma
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Assinatura
📝 Application / Request
🇪🇸 Spanish: Solicitud
🇫🇷 French: Demande / Formulaire
🇩🇪 German: Antrag
🇮🇹 Italian: Domanda / Richiesta
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Solicitação / Pedido
🇪🇸 Spanish: Solicitud
🇫🇷 French: Demande / Formulaire
🇩🇪 German: Antrag
🇮🇹 Italian: Domanda / Richiesta
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Solicitação / Pedido
🧾 Contract
🇪🇸 Spanish: Contrato
🇫🇷 French: Contrat
🇩🇪 German: Vertrag
🇮🇹 Italian: Contratto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Contrato
🇪🇸 Spanish: Contrato
🇫🇷 French: Contrat
🇩🇪 German: Vertrag
🇮🇹 Italian: Contratto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Contrato
📋 Form
🇪🇸 Spanish: Formulario
🇫🇷 French: Formulaire
🇩🇪 German: Formular
🇮🇹 Italian: Modulo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Formulário
🇪🇸 Spanish: Formulario
🇫🇷 French: Formulaire
🇩🇪 German: Formular
🇮🇹 Italian: Modulo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Formulário
📜 Certificate
🇪🇸 Spanish: Certificado
🇫🇷 French: Certificat
🇩🇪 German: Zertifikat / Bescheinigung
🇮🇹 Italian: Certificato
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Certificado
🇪🇸 Spanish: Certificado
🇫🇷 French: Certificat
🇩🇪 German: Zertifikat / Bescheinigung
🇮🇹 Italian: Certificato
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Certificado
🏢 Government Office
🇪🇸 Spanish: Oficina gubernamental
🇫🇷 French: Bureau gouvernemental
🇩🇪 German: Regierungsstelle / Behörde
🇮🇹 Italian: Ufficio governativo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Escritório governamental / Repartição
🇪🇸 Spanish: Oficina gubernamental
🇫🇷 French: Bureau gouvernemental
🇩🇪 German: Regierungsstelle / Behörde
🇮🇹 Italian: Ufficio governativo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Escritório governamental / Repartição
🔵 Useful Actions for Documents & Procedures
✍️ To sign
🇪🇸 Spanish: Firmar
🇫🇷 French: Signer
🇩🇪 German: Unterschreiben
🇮🇹 Italian: Firmare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Assinar
I have to sign this form.
🇪🇸 Tengo que firmar este formulario.
🇫🇷 Je dois signer ce formulaire.
🇩🇪 Ich muss dieses Formular unterschreiben.
🇮🇹 Devo firmare questo modulo.
🇵🇹 Tenho que assinar este formulário.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Firmar
🇫🇷 French: Signer
🇩🇪 German: Unterschreiben
🇮🇹 Italian: Firmare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Assinar
I have to sign this form.
🇪🇸 Tengo que firmar este formulario.
🇫🇷 Je dois signer ce formulaire.
🇩🇪 Ich muss dieses Formular unterschreiben.
🇮🇹 Devo firmare questo modulo.
🇵🇹 Tenho que assinar este formulário.
📄 To fill out
🇪🇸 Spanish: Completar / Llenar
🇫🇷 French: Remplir
🇩🇪 German: Ausfüllen
🇮🇹 Italian: Compilare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Preencher
I need to complete this application.
🇪🇸 Necesito completar esta solicitud.
🇫🇷 Je dois remplir cette demande.
🇩🇪 Ich muss diesen Antrag ausfüllen.
🇮🇹 Devo compilare questa domanda.
🇵🇹 Preciso preencher esta solicitação.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Completar / Llenar
🇫🇷 French: Remplir
🇩🇪 German: Ausfüllen
🇮🇹 Italian: Compilare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Preencher
I need to complete this application.
🇪🇸 Necesito completar esta solicitud.
🇫🇷 Je dois remplir cette demande.
🇩🇪 Ich muss diesen Antrag ausfüllen.
🇮🇹 Devo compilare questa domanda.
🇵🇹 Preciso preencher esta solicitação.
📨 To submit
🇪🇸 Spanish: Presentar
🇫🇷 French: Soumettre / Déposer
🇩🇪 German: Einreichen
🇮🇹 Italian: Presentare / Consegnare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Apresentar / Entregar
Where can I submit the documents?
🇪🇸 ¿Dónde puedo presentar los documentos?
🇫🇷 Où puis-je déposer les documents ?
🇩🇪 Wo kann ich die Dokumente einreichen?
🇮🇹 Dove posso presentare i documenti?
🇵🇹 Onde posso apresentar os documentos?
🇪🇸 Spanish: Presentar
🇫🇷 French: Soumettre / Déposer
🇩🇪 German: Einreichen
🇮🇹 Italian: Presentare / Consegnare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Apresentar / Entregar
Where can I submit the documents?
🇪🇸 ¿Dónde puedo presentar los documentos?
🇫🇷 Où puis-je déposer les documents ?
🇩🇪 Wo kann ich die Dokumente einreichen?
🇮🇹 Dove posso presentare i documenti?
🇵🇹 Onde posso apresentar os documentos?
🔎 To review
🇪🇸 Spanish: Revisar
🇫🇷 French: Examiner / Vérifier
🇩🇪 German: Überprüfen
🇮🇹 Italian: Rivedere / Controllare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Revisar / Verificar
I want to review the document before signing it.
🇪🇸 Quiero revisar el documento antes de firmarlo.
🇫🇷 Je veux examiner le document avant de le signer.
🇩🇪 Ich möchte das Dokument überprüfen, bevor ich es unterschreibe.
🇮🇹 Voglio rivedere il documento prima di firmarlo.
🇵🇹 Quero revisar o documento antes de assiná-lo.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Revisar
🇫🇷 French: Examiner / Vérifier
🇩🇪 German: Überprüfen
🇮🇹 Italian: Rivedere / Controllare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Revisar / Verificar
I want to review the document before signing it.
🇪🇸 Quiero revisar el documento antes de firmarlo.
🇫🇷 Je veux examiner le document avant de le signer.
🇩🇪 Ich möchte das Dokument überprüfen, bevor ich es unterschreibe.
🇮🇹 Voglio rivedere il documento prima di firmarlo.
🇵🇹 Quero revisar o documento antes de assiná-lo.
💬 Useful Phrases in Official Situations
🪪 Here is my identification.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Aquí tiene mi identificación.
🇫🇷 French: Voici ma pièce d'identité.
🇩🇪 German: Hier ist mein Ausweis.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ecco il mio documento d'identità.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Aqui está a minha identificação.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Aquí tiene mi identificación.
🇫🇷 French: Voici ma pièce d'identité.
🇩🇪 German: Hier ist mein Ausweis.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ecco il mio documento d'identità.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Aqui está a minha identificação.
💼 I would like to speak with a lawyer.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Quisiera hablar con un abogado.
🇫🇷 French: Je voudrais parler à un avocat.
🇩🇪 German: Ich möchte gerne mit einem Anwalt sprechen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Vorrei parlare con un avvocato.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gostaria de falar com um advogado.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Quisiera hablar con un abogado.
🇫🇷 French: Je voudrais parler à un avocat.
🇩🇪 German: Ich möchte gerne mit einem Anwalt sprechen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Vorrei parlare con un avvocato.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gostaria de falar com um advogado.
📄 Where do I need to sign?
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Dónde tengo que firmar?
🇫🇷 French: Où dois-je signer ?
🇩🇪 German: Wo muss ich unterschreiben?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dove devo firmare?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde tenho que assinar?
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Dónde tengo que firmar?
🇫🇷 French: Où dois-je signer ?
🇩🇪 German: Wo muss ich unterschreiben?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dove devo firmare?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde tenho que assinar?
🛂 Where is the immigration office?
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Dónde está la oficina de inmigración?
🇫🇷 French: Où est le bureau de l'immigration ?
🇩🇪 German: Wo ist die Einwanderungsbehörde?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dov'è l'ufficio immigrazione?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde fica o escritório de imigração?
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Dónde está la oficina de inmigración?
🇫🇷 French: Où est le bureau de l'immigration ?
🇩🇪 German: Wo ist die Einwanderungsbehörde?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dov'è l'ufficio immigrazione?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde fica o escritório de imigração?
📋 What documents do I need?
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Qué documentos necesito?
🇫🇷 French: Quels documents ai-je besoin ?
🇩🇪 German: Welche Dokumente brauche ich?
🇮🇹 Italian: Quali documenti mi servono?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quais documentos eu preciso?
🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Qué documentos necesito?
🇫🇷 French: Quels documents ai-je besoin ?
🇩🇪 German: Welche Dokumente brauche ich?
🇮🇹 Italian: Quali documenti mi servono?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quais documentos eu preciso?
❓ I don't understand this form.
🇪🇸 Spanish: No entiendo este formulario.
🇫🇷 French: Je ne comprends pas ce formulaire.
🇩🇪 German: Ich verstehe dieses Formular nicht.
🇮🇹 Italian: Non capisco questo modulo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Eu não entendo este formulário.
🇪🇸 Spanish: No entiendo este formulario.
🇫🇷 French: Je ne comprends pas ce formulaire.
🇩🇪 German: Ich verstehe dieses Formular nicht.
🇮🇹 Italian: Non capisco questo modulo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Eu não entendo este formulário.
🌎 Vocabulary Can Vary by Country
🏛️ Court Terminology
Words such as court, tribunal, and judiciary may be used differently depending on the legal system and region. They are not always interchangeable in every context.
Words such as court, tribunal, and judiciary may be used differently depending on the legal system and region. They are not always interchangeable in every context.
🪪 Identification Documents
The name of a national identification document varies by country. You may encounter terms such as ID card, driver’s license, passport, or other local names.
The name of a national identification document varies by country. You may encounter terms such as ID card, driver’s license, passport, or other local names.
🛂 Immigration Terminology
Names for immigration agencies, permits, residency documents, and procedures also differ between countries. When dealing with a real procedure, use the terminology provided by the relevant official authority.
Names for immigration agencies, permits, residency documents, and procedures also differ between countries. When dealing with a real procedure, use the terminology provided by the relevant official authority.
💬 Official Situations in Conversation
At Passport Control:
A: May I see your passport?
B: Yes, of course. Here you are.
🇪🇸 A: ¿Me permite ver su pasaporte?
B: Sí, claro. Aquí tiene.
🇫🇷 A: Puis-je voir votre passeport ?
B: Oui, bien sûr. Le voici.
🇩🇪 A: Darf ich Ihren Reisepass sehen?
B: Ja, natürlich. Hier bitte.
🇮🇹 A: Posso vedere il suo passaporto?
B: Sì, certo. Ecco a lei.
🇵🇹 A: Posso ver o seu passaporte?
B: Sim, claro. Aqui está.
A: May I see your passport?
B: Yes, of course. Here you are.
🇪🇸 A: ¿Me permite ver su pasaporte?
B: Sí, claro. Aquí tiene.
🇫🇷 A: Puis-je voir votre passeport ?
B: Oui, bien sûr. Le voici.
🇩🇪 A: Darf ich Ihren Reisepass sehen?
B: Ja, natürlich. Hier bitte.
🇮🇹 A: Posso vedere il suo passaporto?
B: Sì, certo. Ecco a lei.
🇵🇹 A: Posso ver o seu passaporte?
B: Sim, claro. Aqui está.
At an Office:
A: Good morning. Where can I submit this application?
B: You can submit it at window number three.
🇪🇸 A: Buenos días. ¿Dónde puedo presentar esta solicitud?
B: Puede presentarla en la ventanilla número tres.
🇫🇷 A: Bonjour. Où puis-je déposer cette demande ?
B: Vous pouvez la déposer au guichet numéro trois.
🇩🇪 A: Guten Morgen. Wo kann ich diesen Antrag einreichen?
B: Sie können ihn am Schalter Nummer drei einreichen.
🇮🇹 A: Buongiorno. Dove posso presentare questa domanda?
B: Può presentarla allo sportello numero tre.
🇵🇹 A: Bom dia. Onde posso apresentar esta solicitação?
B: Pode apresentá-la no guichê número três.
A: Good morning. Where can I submit this application?
B: You can submit it at window number three.
🇪🇸 A: Buenos días. ¿Dónde puedo presentar esta solicitud?
B: Puede presentarla en la ventanilla número tres.
🇫🇷 A: Bonjour. Où puis-je déposer cette demande ?
B: Vous pouvez la déposer au guichet numéro trois.
🇩🇪 A: Guten Morgen. Wo kann ich diesen Antrag einreichen?
B: Sie können ihn am Schalter Nummer drei einreichen.
🇮🇹 A: Buongiorno. Dove posso presentare questa domanda?
B: Può presentarla allo sportello numero tre.
🇵🇹 A: Bom dia. Onde posso apresentar esta solicitação?
B: Pode apresentá-la no guichê número três.
📝 Vocabulary in Context
🛂 My passport expires next year.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Mi pasaporte vence el próximo año.
🇫🇷 French: Mon passeport expire l'année prochaine.
🇩🇪 German: Mein Reisepass läuft nächstes Jahr ab.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il mio passaporto scade l'anno prossimo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O meu passaporte expira no próximo ano.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Mi pasaporte vence el próximo año.
🇫🇷 French: Mon passeport expire l'année prochaine.
🇩🇪 German: Mein Reisepass läuft nächstes Jahr ab.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il mio passaporto scade l'anno prossimo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O meu passaporte expira no próximo ano.
📑 I read the contract before signing it.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Leí el contrato antes de firmarlo.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai lu le contrat avant de le signer.
🇩🇪 German: Ich habe den Vertrag gelesen, bevor ich ihn unterschrieben habe.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ho letto il contratto prima di firmarlo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Eu li o contrato antes de assiná-lo.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Leí el contrato antes de firmarlo.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai lu le contrat avant de le signer.
🇩🇪 German: Ich habe den Vertrag gelesen, bevor ich ihn unterschrieben habe.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ho letto il contratto prima di firmarlo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Eu li o contrato antes de assiná-lo.
📋 A signature is missing from the form.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Falta una firma en el formulario.
🇫🇷 French: Il manque une signature sur le formulaire.
🇩🇪 German: Auf dem Formular fehlt eine Unterschrift.
🇮🇹 Italian: Manca una firma sul modulo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Falta uma assinatura no formulário.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Falta una firma en el formulario.
🇫🇷 French: Il manque une signature sur le formulaire.
🇩🇪 German: Auf dem Formular fehlt eine Unterschrift.
🇮🇹 Italian: Manca una firma sul modulo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Falta uma assinatura no formulário.
📄 I kept a copy of all the documents.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Guardé una copia de todos los documentos.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai gardé une copie de tous les documents.
🇩🇪 German: Ich habe eine Kopie aller Dokumente aufbewahrt.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ho tenuto una copia di tutti i documenti.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Guardei uma cópia de todos os documentos.
🇪🇸 Spanish: Guardé una copia de todos los documentos.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai gardé une copie de tous les documents.
🇩🇪 German: Ich habe eine Kopie aller Dokumente aufbewahrt.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ho tenuto una copia di tutti i documenti.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Guardei uma cópia de todos os documentos.
🏆 Final Practice
Try saying each English phrase before pressing play.
- Here is my identification.
- I would like to speak with a lawyer.
- Where do I need to sign?
- What documents do I need?
- I don't understand this form.
- Where is the immigration office?
Tip: For real official or legal situations, pay attention to the vocabulary used in the specific country. Learning general English terms gives you a useful foundation, but official terminology can differ between legal systems and government agencies.