ente
“ente” means “entity” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
entity
Also: body, organism
📝 In Action
El banco central es un ente autónomo del gobierno.
B2The central bank is an autonomous entity of the government.
Para solicitar el crédito, debes ser un ente jurídico registrado.
C1To apply for the credit, you must be a registered legal entity.
Este ente se encarga de regular el comercio exterior.
B2This body is in charge of regulating foreign trade.
being
Also: entity
📝 In Action
La novela trata sobre un ente de otra dimensión.
C1The novel is about a being from another dimension.
No es una persona real, es un ente imaginario.
B2It's not a real person; it's an imaginary being.
En filosofía, se estudia la naturaleza del ente.
C2In philosophy, the nature of being is studied.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ente
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence uses 'ente' to refer to a government organization?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'ens', which is the present participle of 'esse' (to be). It literally means 'something that is'.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'ente' the same as 'persona'?
Not exactly. A 'persona' is a human individual. An 'ente' is a more general term that can include organizations or abstract beings. However, in law, a company is called an 'ente jurídico' (legal entity).
When should I use 'entidad' instead of 'ente'?
Use 'entidad' for most common situations, like referring to a company or a social entity. Use 'ente' when you want to sound more formal, technical, or when referring to government bodies.
Is 'ente' used in casual conversation?
Rarely. It is quite a formal word. If you use it while hanging out with friends, you might sound like a lawyer or a philosophy professor!