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comerciante

ko-mehr-syahn-teh/komeɾˈθjante/

“comerciante” means “merchant” in Spanish (a person involved in wholesale or retail trade).

merchant, shopkeeper

Also: trader, businessperson
Nounm or fB1
General
A friendly shopkeeper standing behind a wooden counter filled with baskets of fresh fruit and vegetables.

📝 In Action

Mi abuelo era un comerciante de telas muy respetado.

A2

My grandfather was a very respected fabric merchant.

Los comerciantes locales están preocupados por la nueva ley.

B1

Local shopkeepers are worried about the new law.

Para ser un buen comerciante, hay que conocer bien el mercado.

B2

To be a good trader, you have to know the market well.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • vendedor (seller)
  • mercader (trader (often traditional or historical))
  • negociante (businessman/dealer)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • pequeño comerciante – small business owner
  • comerciante minorista – retailer
  • comerciante mayorista – wholesaler

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "comerciante" in Spanish:

businessperson→merchant→shopkeeper→trader→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: comerciante

Question 1 of 3

How would you say 'the female shopkeeper'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
comercio(trade / shop) — Noun
comerciar(to trade) — Verb
comercial(commercial) — Adjective
comercialización(marketing / commercialization) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Spanish verb 'comerciar' (to trade), which comes from the Latin 'commercium'. The suffix '-ante' is used to describe a person who performs an action.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: merchantFrench: commerçantItalian: commerciante

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'comerciante' only refer to people with big businesses?

Not at all! It can refer to a large-scale international trader or the person running a tiny neighborhood grocery store.

Can it be used as an adjective?

Technically yes, to describe something related to trade, but it is almost always used as a noun. For 'commercial' as an adjective, 'comercial' is much more common.

Is it a polite word?

Yes, it is a professional and respectful way to describe someone's occupation in trade.