agente
/ah-HEN-teh/
agent
As a common noun, agente refers to a professional representative, such as a travel agent (agente de viajes).
agente(Noun)
agent
?professional, representative
representative
?acting on behalf of a company
,broker
?e.g., insurance, real estate
📝 In Action
Mi agente de viajes me consiguió un vuelo muy barato.
A2My travel agent got me a very cheap flight.
La agente de bienes raíces nos mostró una casa preciosa.
B1The real estate agent showed us a beautiful house.
Necesito hablar con un agente de seguros sobre mi póliza.
B1I need to speak with an insurance agent about my policy.
💡 Grammar Points
A Noun That Can Be Masculine or Feminine
'Agente' is what we call a 'common gender' noun. The word itself doesn't change, but the little word before it (the article) tells you if you're talking about a man (el agente) or a woman (la agente).
⭐ Usage Tips
Be Specific
To avoid confusion, Spanish speakers usually specify what kind of agent they mean. For example, instead of just 'agente', they'll say 'agente de viajes' (travel agent).
In law enforcement, agente is used formally for a police officer or secret operative.
agente(Noun)
agent
?law enforcement, secret service
officer
?police officer
,operative
?secret or undercover work
📝 In Action
Un agente de policía llegó a la escena del accidente.
B1A police officer arrived at the scene of the accident.
Ella es una agente secreta en la película.
B1She is a secret agent in the movie.
Los agentes federales investigan el caso.
B2The federal agents are investigating the case.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Agente' vs. 'Policía'
Mistake: "Siempre digo 'agente' para 'policía'."
Correction: 'Policía' is the most common, everyday word for a police officer. 'Agente' is also correct, but often sounds a bit more formal or is used for specific types, like 'agente federal'.
In scientific or formal contexts, agente can refer to a substance or factor that produces a specific effect, like a chemical agent.
agente(Noun)
agent
?chemical, biological, causal
factor
?a contributing cause
,cause
?something that produces an effect
,substance
?a chemical or element
📝 In Action
El cloro es un potente agente blanqueador.
C1Chlorine is a powerful bleaching agent.
La educación puede ser un agente de cambio social.
C1Education can be an agent of social change.
Identificaron el agente infeccioso en el laboratorio.
C2They identified the infectious agent in the lab.
⭐ Usage Tips
A More Abstract Meaning
Think of this meaning as 'the thing that does the action'. It's mostly used in formal or scientific settings to talk about what causes something to happen, like a chemical reaction or a social change.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: agente
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'agente' to refer to a cause or substance?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I should say 'el agente' or 'la agente'?
It's simple! Use 'el agente' when you're talking about a man, and 'la agente' when you're talking about a woman. The word 'agente' itself stays the same.
What is the difference between 'agente' and 'policía'?
'Policía' is the general, everyday word for a police officer. 'Agente' is also correct but can sound more formal. It's often used for specific types of officers, like an 'agente federal' (federal agent) or 'agente secreto' (secret agent).