Inklingo
← Dictionary

empresa

/em-PREH-sah/

company

A brightly colored, stylized corporate building with large windows and a distinct, simple geometric symbol above the entrance, symbolizing a commercial organization.

When referring to a commercial organization, empresa translates to 'company'.

empresa(noun)

fA1

company

?

commercial organization

Also:

firm

?

professional service

,

business

?

general commercial entity

📝 In Action

Trabajo para una empresa de software muy grande.

A1

I work for a very large software company.

Queremos fundar nuestra propia empresa el próximo año.

A2

We want to start our own business next year.

El presidente de la empresa dio un discurso sobre las ventas.

B1

The company president gave a speech about sales.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • compañía (company)
  • negocio (business)
  • corporación (corporation)

Common Collocations

  • pequeña empresa – small business/company
  • empresa pública – public company (government-owned)
  • jefe de empresa – head of the company

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

Remember that 'empresa' is always a feminine word, so you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'la empresa', 'una empresa pequeña').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender Error

Mistake: "El empresa es grande."

Correction: La empresa es grande. (Remember the ending '-a' often indicates feminine gender in Spanish nouns.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Business Context

Use 'empresa' when referring to the legal or structural entity. If you mean the general act of doing business, 'negocio' might be more appropriate.

A small, determined figure wearing a hardhat, laying the foundation bricks for a large, colorful structure, illustrating the start of a major undertaking.

Empresa can also mean 'undertaking', referring to a project or venture.

empresa(noun)

fB2

undertaking

?

a project or venture

Also:

venture

?

a new or risky project

,

challenge

?

a difficult task

📝 In Action

Construir ese puente fue una empresa de ingeniería muy compleja.

B2

Building that bridge was a very complex engineering undertaking.

Su viaje alrededor del mundo en bicicleta fue una empresa heroica.

C1

His trip around the world by bicycle was a heroic venture.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • una empresa difícil – a difficult undertaking
  • una gran empresa – a grand endeavor

💡 Grammar Points

Figurative Use

When 'empresa' is used this way, it refers to the massive effort or challenge involved, not a company. Context will tell you which meaning is intended.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: empresa

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'empresa' to mean 'a challenging project' instead of 'a business organization'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

empresario(businessman/entrepreneur) - noun
empresaria(businesswoman/entrepreneur) - noun
empresarial(business-related) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'empresa' and 'negocio'?

'Empresa' generally refers to the formal, legal organization or entity itself (like 'The Coca-Cola Company'). 'Negocio' is often broader and means the overall commercial activity, the transaction, or the generalized 'business' aspect (e.g., 'Estoy en el negocio de la comida' - I'm in the food business).

How do I say 'entrepreneur' in Spanish?

You use 'empresario' (for a male) or 'empresaria' (for a female). These words come directly from 'empresa'.