Skip to content

multa

fine; penalty

noun MOOL-tah Less Common

Origin: From Latin multa (fine, penalty).

Usage Note

Multa is the standard word for a monetary penalty imposed by an authority (multa de tráfico = 'traffic fine'). The related verb is multar ('to fine someone'). It differs from sanción, which is broader and can include non-monetary penalties. Fines in Spain are often described by amount: una multa de 200 euros.

Examples

"Le pusieron una multa por aparcar en doble fila."

Natural Translation

He was fined for double parking.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore Spanish by topic