# Law, police and crime in Esperanto: words for news

Source: https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/law-crime/
Language: en
Updated: 2026-10-08

> Law is leĝo, police is polico, a thief is ŝtelisto: about 80 Esperanto words for courts, crime and news, with pronunciation and theft phrases.

Law in Esperanto is ***leĝo*** for one law and ***juro*** for law as a whole. The police are the ***polico***, a crime is a ***krimo*** and a thief is a ***ŝtelisto***. About 80 words are grouped by topic below, followed by phrases for a traveller whose wallet was stolen. The words are neutral labels; where the dictionary ReVo marks a sense as one to avoid, the table gives the recommended word. Parliament and elections are on [politics and society](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/politics-society/). Pronunciation guides split words into syllables, with the stressed syllable in capitals.

## Law and rules

***Leĝo*** is one law: ReVo defines it as a binding decision proclaimed by the highest state authority. ***Juro*** is the whole system of rules that define people's rights and duties. Compare *la nova leĝo* "the new law" and *Ŝi lernas juron* "She is studying law".

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| a law | *leĝo* | LE-ĝo | one statute |
| law (system, subject) | *juro* | JU-ro | an expert is a *juristo*; "legal" is *jura* |
| lawful | *laŭleĝa* | laŭ-LE-ĝa | *laŭ* "according to" + *leĝo* |
| illegal | *kontraŭleĝa* | kon-traŭ-LE-ĝa | *kontraŭ* "against" + *leĝo* |
| to allow, to forbid | *permesi*, *malpermesi* | per-ME-si, mal-per-ME-si | *mal-* "opposite" |

## Courts and trials

***Juĝi*** is "to judge" in the legal sense: to decide by law whether someone is guilty. A ***juĝejo*** is a "judging place". ReVo gives ***tribunalo*** as a synonym and also defines it as a body of one or more judges. ***Kortumo*** names various courts, especially high ones, as in *la Internacia Kortumo* "the International Court". All three translate "court".

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| to judge | *juĝi* | JU-ĝi | |
| judge | *juĝisto* | ju-ĜIS-to | |
| court | *juĝejo*, *tribunalo* | ju-ĜE-jo, tri-bu-NA-lo | synonyms in ReVo |
| court (often high) | *kortumo* | kor-TU-mo | common in names |
| lawsuit, trial | *proceso* | pro-CE-so | for "process" say *procezo* (ReVo) |
| lawyer | *advokato* | ad-vo-KA-to | defends someone in court |
| prosecutor | *prokuroro* | pro-ku-RO-ro | also *akuzisto* |
| to accuse | *akuzi* | a-KU-zi | charge: *akuzo* |
| the accused | *akuzito* | a-ku-ZI-to | *-it-* "who was accused" |
| witness | *atestanto* | a-tes-TAN-to | *atesti* "to testify" |
| proof, evidence | *pruvo* | PRU-vo | *pruvi* "to prove" |
| to defend | *defendi* | de-FEN-di | |
| guilty | *kulpa* | KUL-pa | |
| innocent | *senkulpa* | sen-KUL-pa | *sen-* "without" |
| verdict | *verdikto* | ver-DIK-to | |
| to convict, to sentence | *kondamni* | kon-DAM-ni | the person: *kondamnito* |
| to acquit | *senkulpigi* | sen-kul-PI-gi | declare innocent |
| punishment | *puno* | PU-no | to punish: *puni* |
| fine | *monpuno* | mon-PU-no | *mono* + *puno* |

## Police and investigation

***Polico*** is the administration for public order and safety. Anyone who works in it is a ***policano***. ReVo defines ***policisto*** as such a person, especially one who investigates, guards or helps the public.

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| police | *polico* | po-LI-co | |
| police officer | *policisto*, *policano* | po-li-CIS-to, po-li-CA-no | |
| police station | *policejo* | po-li-CE-jo | *-ej-* "place" |
| detective | *detektivo* | de-tek-TI-vo | police or private |
| to arrest | *aresti* | a-RES-ti | the person: *arestito* |
| to investigate | *enketi*, *esplori* | en-KE-ti, es-PLO-ri | *esplori* is more general: "explore" |
| investigation | *enketo*, *esploro* | en-KE-to, es-PLO-ro | *enketo* also means a survey |
| to suspect | *suspekti* | sus-PEK-ti | assume guilt without sure proof |
| trace | *spuro* | SPU-ro | |
| clue | *indikaĵo* | in-di-KA-ĵo | ReVo marks *indico* here as archaic |
| to make a complaint | *plendi* | PLEN-di | to a court or police; *plendo* |

## Crimes and criminals

***Krimo*** is an act that most gravely breaks a moral or civil law, in ReVo's definition. The person is a ***krimulo***. ReVo glosses ***delikto*** as a "misdemeanour", an act punishable by law.

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| crime | *krimo* | KRI-mo | |
| offence | *delikto* | de-LIK-to | |
| criminal (person) | *krimulo* | kri-MU-lo | *krim·ul·o* |
| criminal (adjective) | *krima* | KRI-ma | ReVo also has *kriminala* |
| theft, to steal | *ŝtelo*, *ŝteli* | ŜTE-lo, ŜTE-li | |
| thief | *ŝtelisto* | ŝte-LIS-to | habitual thief, see below |
| burglar | *domŝtelisto* | dom-ŝte-LIS-to | steals inside houses |
| pickpocket | *poŝoŝtelisto* | po-ŝo-ŝte-LIS-to | takes from pockets and bags |
| to rob (a person or place) | *prirabi* | pri-RA-bi | ReVo: avoid *rabi* in this sense |
| to take by force | *rabi* | RA-bi | robber: *rabisto* |
| murder, to murder | *murdo*, *murdi* | MUR-do, MUR-di | |
| murderer | *murdinto* | mur-DIN-to | ReVo: *murdisto* kills for pay |
| to kill | *mortigi* | mor-TI-gi | ReVo: *mortigo* is preferred to *hommortigo* |
| violence | *perforto* | per-FOR-to | bodily force to impose one's will |
| to attack | *ataki* | a-TA-ki | attack: *atako* |
| fraud | *fraŭdo* | FRAŬ-do | cheating on amounts or accounts; to deceive: *trompi* |
| smuggling | *kontrabando* | kon-tra-BAN-do | smuggler: *kontrabandisto* |
| victim | *viktimo* | vik-TI-mo | one who suffers because of something |

## Prison and release

***Malliberejo*** is *mal·liber·ej·o*, "place of un-freedom". PMEG equates it with ***prizono***, though ReVo defines *prizono* as an official prison.

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| prison | *malliberejo*, *prizono* | mal-li-be-RE-jo, pri-ZO-no | |
| prisoner | *malliberulo*, *prizonulo* | mal-li-be-RU-lo, pri-zo-NU-lo | |
| to imprison | *malliberigi* | mal-li-be-RI-gi | |
| to release | *liberigi* | li-be-RI-gi | |

## Building more words

PMEG defines *-ist-* as a person who often does something, perhaps professionally; its own example is *ŝtelisto*, someone who often steals. For one act, use a participle: *la ŝtelinto* "the one who stole". Likewise *suspektato* "person under suspicion" (*suspekti* + *-at-*) is a regular formation, not a ReVo entry.

| Word part | Meaning | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| *-ist-* | person who often does it | *ŝtelisto*, *rabisto* | thief, robber |
| *-ej-* | place | *juĝejo*, *policejo* | court, police station |
| *-ul-* | person with a trait | *krimulo*, *malliberulo* | criminal, prisoner |
| *-ant-*, *-int-*, *-it-* | doing, did, was done to | *akuzanto*, *murdinto*, *akuzito* | accuser, murderer, accused |
| *-ig-* | to make, to cause | *malliberigi*, *senkulpigi* | to imprison, to acquit |
| *mal-*, *sen-* | opposite, without | *malpermesi*, *senkulpa* | to forbid, innocent |

See [suffixes](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/suffixes/), [prefixes](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/prefixes/), [participles](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/participles/) and [word building](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/word-building/).

## If something is stolen

For "Help!" and "Call the police!" see [travel phrases](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/travel/). *Oni* means "one, someone, they" (PMEG), so *Oni ŝtelis mian monujon* is literally "someone stole my wallet", the usual way to say "my wallet was stolen" (see [pronouns](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/pronouns/)). Driving fines are on the [cars and driving](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/car-driving/) page.

| Esperanto | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| *Kie estas la policejo?* | KI-e ES-tas la po-li-CE-jo? | Where is the police station? |
| *Oni ŝtelis mian monujon.* | O-ni ŜTE-lis MI-an mo-NU-jon. | My wallet has been stolen. |
| *Oni prirabis min.* | O-ni pri-RA-bis min. | I have been robbed. |
| *Mi volas plendi al la polico pri ŝtelo.* | mi VO-las PLEN-di al la po-LI-co pri ŜTE-lo. | I want to report a theft to the police. |
| *Oni atakis min.* | O-ni a-TA-kis min. | I was attacked. |
| *Mi bezonas interpretiston.* | mi be-ZO-nas in-ter-pre-TIS-ton. | I need an interpreter. |
| *Ĉu mi rajtas voki advokaton?* | ĉu mi RAJ-tas VO-ki ad-vo-KA-ton? | May I call a lawyer? |
| *Mi volas telefoni al mia ambasado.* | mi VO-las te-le-FO-ni al MI-a am-ba-SA-do. | I want to phone my embassy. |
| *Mi estas senkulpa.* | mi ES-tas sen-KUL-pa. | I am innocent. |

Use *ŝteli* for stolen things and *perdi* for lost ones (*Mi perdis mian pasporton*).

## Sentences from the news

| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
| *La polico arestis du ŝtelistojn.* | The police arrested two thieves. |
| *La polico ankoraŭ esploras la aferon.* | The police are still investigating the matter. |
| *La advokato defendas sian klienton.* | The lawyer is defending his client. |
| *La akuzito diras, ke li estas senkulpa.* | The accused says he is innocent. |
| *La juĝisto kondamnis la ŝteliston al du jaroj en malliberejo.* | The judge sentenced the thief to two years in prison. |
| *La tribunalo decidos en Novembro.* | The court will decide in November. |

Direct objects take *-n*: *du ŝtelistojn*, *la aferon*. Month names take a capital letter, as in *Novembro*.

## Common questions

### How do you say "law" in Esperanto?

*Leĝo* is a law that was passed; *juro* is law as a whole or as a subject: *Ŝi lernas juron*. "Legal" is *jura* (relating to law) or *laŭleĝa* (in line with the law).

### How do you say "police" and "Call the police" in Esperanto?

*Polico* is the police, *policisto* or *policano* an officer and *policejo* the station. "Call the police!" is *Voku la policon!*

### What is the difference between *juĝejo*, *tribunalo* and *kortumo*?

All three translate "court". ReVo gives *tribunalo* as a synonym of *juĝejo*; it also means a body of judges. *Kortumo* names various courts, especially high ones.

### How do you say "thief", "robber" and "murderer" in Esperanto?

*Ŝtelisto*, *rabisto* and *murdinto*. ReVo defines *murdisto* as a person who kills for pay; *murdinto* is anyone who committed a murder.

### How do you say "guilty" and "innocent" in Esperanto?

*Kulpa* and *senkulpa*. A court *kondamnas* (convicts) or *senkulpigas* (acquits), and its decision is a *verdikto*.

## Sources

- ReVo, law and courts: [leĝo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/legx.html), [juro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/jur.html), [juĝi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/jugx.html), [tribunalo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/tribun1.html), [kortumo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kort.html), [proceso](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/proces.html), [advokato](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/advoka.html), [prokuroro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/prokur1.html), [akuzi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/akuz.html), [atesti](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/atest.html), [pruvo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pruv.html), [defendi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/defend.html), [kulpa](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kulp.html), [verdikto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/verdik.html), [kondamni](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kondam.html), [puno](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pun.html), [permesi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/permes.html)
- ReVo, police: [polico](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/polic.html), [detektivo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/detekt1.html), [aresti](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/arest.html), [enketi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/enket.html), [esplori](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/esplor.html), [suspekti](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/suspek.html), [spuro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/spur.html), [indico](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/indic.html), [indikaĵo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/indik.html), [plendi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/plend.html)
- ReVo, crimes: [krimo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/krim.html), [kriminala](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/krimin.html), [delikto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/delikt.html), [ŝteli](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sxtel.html), [rabi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/rab.html), [murdi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/murd.html), [mortigi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/mort.html), [perforto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/fort.html), [ataki](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/atak.html), [fraŭdo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/frauxd.html), [trompi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/tromp.html), [kontrabando](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kontra.html), [viktimo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/viktim.html)
- ReVo, prison and phrases: [malliberejo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/liber.html), [prizono](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/prizon.html), [interpretisto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/interp2.html), [rajti](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/rajt.html), [telefoni](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/telefo.html), [ambasado](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/ambasa.html)
- PMEG: [IST](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ist.html), [UL](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ul.html), [EJ](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ej.html), [IG](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ig.html), [MAL](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/prefiksoj/mal.html), [participles](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/participoj/index.html), [third-person pronouns (oni)](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/pronomoj/tria.html)