Hola! Did you know that there are roughly 500 million people around the world who speak Spanish? With that big of a number, we’re willing to bet that you also have a lot of Spanish business peers you would want to connect with more. If you haven’t yet, well, now is as good a time as any to up your game and enter the playing field, amigos and amigas!

Let’s get you started with basic Spanish business terms. Get your pens out, take notes, and by the end of this mini lesson, your business Spanish vocabulary will considerably have improved!

1. Hola! (Hello)

You may already know this, but do not forget that even a simple greeting can be very important to set you off the right track! Drill this in your mind, repeat it in front of a mirror, and make it a habit to say “Hola!” in the most delighted tone you have! 

2. Amigo/Amiga (Friend)

Being on friendly terms with your Spanish peers is ideal to keep your dealings smooth, pleasant, and light. Once you have built a good relationship with them, try calling them amigo (man) or amiga (woman) during one of your lighthearted conversations. It might warm their heart to know that there is someone they can trust.

3. Mercado (Market)

Speaking of business dealings, there are common business Spanish words that will pop-up during discussions, and you should be able to have a grasp at them. One of which is mercado. If you have interesting ideas for business, we’re pretty sure you’re going to use this word a lot more than you think.

4. El empresa (The company)

Do not confuse this as the name of any company whenever you hear it in conversations. In fact, no matter how nice it is to the ears, el empresa simply means ‘the company’. When someone uses this, they can be referring to their company, your company, or a third party company for that matter.

5. El negocio (The business)

This can also be another way to refer to the company, but it might still be more apt to use it to point out to the nature of what you or your company is doing, or even what state your negocio is in.

6. La dirección (The direction)

Oh, will you look at that? It is planning time! When someone is discussing future plans for el empresa or el negocio, it would be important to have a clear dirección so the team knows how to work on their tasks!

You can also use this word when setting goals for the business with as much confidence as you can muster so your team and your peers can share strong hopes for success together!

7. Personal (Staff)

Nope, this is nothing personal like your individuality. In business Spanish, personal means ‘the company staff’. If someone says personal, they are not referring to their own selves but rather to the other people that are driving success to the company.

8. Reunion (Meeting)

Again, this might be a bit confusing, but when someone says you are having a reunion, do not think, “Oh! It’s party time!” Sorry to burst your bubble, but instead of party banners and confetti, expect PowerPoint presentations, handouts, and some brainstorming.

9. Contrato (Contract)

Contracts are very important in businesses because they basically seal the deal. That is why you should also be aware of the different kinds of contracts and how they are said in Spanish before you agree and give your wholehearted si (yes)!

It is not enough to know what contrato means, so here are other related words you should know:

a. Contrato Indefinido – Permanent Work Contract

b. Contrato Temporal – Temporary Work Contract

c. Practicas – Internship or On-the-job training.

10. Beneficio (Profit)

At the end of the day, the success of a company is measured by how much beneficio it has gained. Another use of this word is when asking for the benefits that can be earned, either from a contract, a deal, or any marketing decisions made. With how close beneficio is to the word benefit, you would surely remember this without a hitch.

11. Dinero (money)

When someone says dinero, they are not asking for dinner nor to have dinner. In Spanish, dinero means money. That is right! When you hear this word being tossed around during conversations, even casual ones, they are not talking about a hearty fill for dinner. Now that you know that, do not go saying yes so quickly when a person asks for dinero!

12. Jefe (Leader, boss)

If you want to avoid getting in trouble with the jefe, well, you better remember this word too! You might miss it during conversations, so listen intently and know who is the boss, especially if you do not know them yet. This way, you will be able to address the jefe properly.

13. Director (Director)

Okay, so you might think there is not much difference with this word’s English counterpart, but the reason why we included this here is because this is one of the words that you have to be particular about the gender. If you are addressing a male director, director is okay as is! But if you are addressing a female director, be sure to switch to directora and refer to them properly.

There is a whole lot more to learn, of course, but at least we have covered the basics. However, if you want to be a real professional in Spanish, a professional service can most definitely help you with that!

Many of them have a carefully constructed curriculum fit for online learning, and this wonderful experience can be shared by the whole team!  

You can also see your progress in corporate language training with a learning tracker to keep you and your team motivated to keep learning.

Business Spanish classes is also more than just simple tutoring for those who want to get in with the basics. Find a trustworthy partner in learning Spanish for business professionals too!

It is time to forge closer connections with your Spanish peers through better communication.