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Réu is a term used in Portuguese-speaking legal systems to designate the party against whom a civil or criminal action is brought. It corresponds to the defendant in English-language legal language. The masculine singular form is réu; the feminine singular form is ré, used when the defendant is a woman; the plural form is réus and is used for groups including one or more men or mixed participants.

Usage and scope: In Portugal, Brazil and other Lusophone jurisdictions, the réu is the party required to respond to the allegations. In criminal proceedings, the réu is the person charged or accused of a crime and has rights such as defense and legal counsel. In civil actions, the réu defends against claims brought by the plaintiff, who may be called the autor or demandante.

Distinction and context: The term helps distinguish the defendant from the plaintiff (autor/demandante). In some jurisdictions, the word acusado may be used during investigation or early stages of a case, while réu is common in later procedural stages and in judgments. The exact usage can vary by country and procedural context, but réu remains the standard label for the party defending against claims in court.

Etymology: Réu derives from Latin reus, meaning the accused in a legal matter, and was incorporated into Iberian and Lusophone legal vocabulary.

See also: Acusado, Autor, Demandante.