contratarvsemplear
/kon-trah-TAR/
/em-pleh-AR/
💡 Quick Rule
Contratar = the event of hiring. Emplear = the state of being employed.
Think: Contratar = sign a Contract. Emplear = be an Employee.
- Emplear also means 'to use' or 'to utilize', especially in formal contexts.
- In some formal contexts, they can be synonyms, but contratar is much more common for the specific act of hiring.
📊 Comparison Table
| Context | contratar | emplear | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiring Event vs. Workforce State | Contrataron a 20 personas. | Emplean a 500 personas. | Contratar refers to the specific action of hiring new people. Emplear refers to the total number of people currently on staff. |
| Job vs. Service | Contraté a un plomero. | (Not used for this) | Use contratar for short-term services (plumber, DJ, lawyer). Emplear implies a more permanent employer-employee relationship. |
| People vs. Methods | Contratamos a un consultor. | Empleamos un nuevo método. | Contratar is for people or services. Emplear can also mean 'to use' a thing, technique, or resource. |
✅ When to Use "contratar" / emplear
contratar
To hire, to sign a contract for a job or service.
/kon-trah-TAR/
The action of hiring a person
La empresa me va a contratar la próxima semana.
The company is going to hire me next week.
Engaging a temporary service
Contratamos a un fotógrafo para la boda.
We hired a photographer for the wedding.
Signing up for a service (like a phone plan)
Voy a contratar un nuevo plan de internet.
I'm going to sign up for a new internet plan.
emplear
To employ (have someone on staff), or to use/utilize.
/em-pleh-AR/
Describing a company's workforce (the state)
Esa fábrica emplea a más de mil personas.
That factory employs more than a thousand people.
To use or make use of something (formal)
El chef empleó una técnica especial para el postre.
The chef used a special technique for the dessert.
Formal way of saying 'to give work to'
El gobierno tiene programas para emplear a los jóvenes.
The government has programs to employ young people.
🔄 Contrast Examples
With "contratar":
La empresa contrató a diez programadores este año.
The company hired ten programmers this year.
With "emplear":
La empresa emplea a diez programadores.
The company employs ten programmers.
The Difference: Contratar focuses on the action of bringing new people on board. Emplear describes the current, ongoing state of the workforce.
With "contratar":
Voy a contratar más ayuda para la tienda.
I'm going to hire more help for the store.
With "emplear":
Voy a emplear más tiempo en estudiar.
I'm going to use/spend more time studying.
The Difference: This highlights the core difference. Contratar is about getting a person/service, while emplear can mean utilizing a resource like time.
🎨 Visual Comparison
Contratar is the handshake (the event). Emplear is the busy office (the state).
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Empleamos a un DJ para la fiesta.
Contratamos a un DJ para la fiesta.
For a one-time service like a DJ, use contratar. Emplear would imply you gave them a permanent job, which sounds strange.
La compañía me emplea mañana.
La compañía me contrata mañana.
The moment of getting the job is an event, so use contratar. 'Me emplea' describes the ongoing state of having the job.
Para abrir la lata, contraté un abrelatas.
Para abrir la lata, usé/empleé un abrelatas.
You don't 'hire' a tool. The correct verb here is usar (to use) or, more formally, emplear.
📚 Related Grammar
Want to understand the grammar behind this pair? Explore these lessons for a deep dive:
🏷️ Key Words
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: Contratar vs Emplear
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence is correct for describing a company's total workforce? 'La fábrica ___ a 200 personas.'
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Are 'contratar' and 'emplear' ever interchangeable?
Yes, in very formal business or legal writing, they can sometimes be used as synonyms for 'to hire'. However, in everyday conversation, it's much clearer to use 'contratar' for the act of hiring and 'emplear' to describe the state of being employed.
So 'emplear' doesn't always mean to give someone a job?
Correct! A very common meaning of 'emplear' is 'to use' or 'to utilize,' similar to 'usar' but often more formal. For example, you can 'emplear tu tiempo' (use your time) or 'emplear una palabra' (use a word).