legal

adjective leh-GAHL Less Common

Origin: From Latin legalis, from lex/legis (law).

Also means

lawful

Usage Note

Legal is invariable for gender (un contrato legal, una empresa legal) and pluralises as legales. It is a 'good friend' — it means what it looks like. In colloquial Spain, legal is also slang for 'trustworthy' or 'cool' (es un tío muy legal — he's a really straight-up guy), a sense absent in formal or Latin American use. The opposite is ilegal; legítimo (legitimate) adds a sense of moral rightness beyond mere lawfulness.

Examples

"El contrato es completamente legal."

Natural Translation

The contract is completely legal.

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