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A happy child stands proudly in a green field, holding a leash attached to a cheerful brown dog, illustrating the concept of ownership.

dueño

doo-EH-nyo

nounmA2
owner?of a house, pet, or object,proprietor?of a business or company
Also:master?historically, or of an animal/estate (less common today)

📝 In Action

¿Quién es el dueño de este coche rojo?

A1

Who is the owner of this red car?

Mi hermano es el dueño de una panadería muy exitosa.

A2

My brother is the proprietor of a very successful bakery.

Los dueños del perro deben pagar la multa.

B1

The dog's owners must pay the fine.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • propietario (owner)
  • amo (master/owner (often of pets or in literary contexts))

Antonyms

  • inquilino (tenant)
  • empleado (employee)

Common Collocations

  • ser dueño de – to be the owner of
  • el dueño del negocio – the business owner

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine and Feminine Forms

Since 'dueño' refers to a person, it changes gender. If the owner is female, you must use 'dueña'.

Always followed by 'de'

To specify what is owned, use the preposition 'de' (of). Example: 'el dueño del restaurante' (the owner of the restaurant).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'dueño' and 'amo'

Mistake: "Using 'amo' for a business owner."

Correction: 'Dueño' is generally used for property or businesses. 'Amo' often specifically refers to a pet owner or an employer/master in older/formal contexts. Stick to 'dueño' for common ownership.

⭐ Usage Tips

Quick Identification

If you need to find who is in charge of a place, use the question: '¿Podemos hablar con el dueño?' (Can we talk to the owner?).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: dueño

Question 1 of 2

If María bought a new house, what would you call her?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

dueña(female owner/proprietress) - noun
poseer(to possess/to own) - verb
propiedad(property/ownership) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'dueño' only used for people?

Yes, 'dueño' refers exclusively to a person or entity that possesses something. The thing that is owned is called 'propiedad' (property).

How do I say 'self-control' using this word's root?

The concept of 'being the master of oneself' is often expressed using related terms like 'autodominio' or 'control propio'.