mercantil
“mercantil” means “commercial” in Spanish (related to business and trade).
commercial, mercantile
Also: business-related
📝 In Action
Necesitamos un abogado experto en derecho mercantil.
B2We need a lawyer who is an expert in commercial law.
El registro mercantil guarda toda la información de las empresas.
B2The commercial registry keeps all the information about companies.
Las rutas mercantiles eran fundamentales para el desarrollo de la ciudad.
C1The mercantile routes were fundamental for the city's development.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: mercantil
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct way to say 'commercial law'?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'mercantilis', which comes from 'mercans', meaning a buyer or merchant.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'mercantil' the same as 'comercial'?
They are very close! However, 'mercantil' is more formal and is usually used in legal or historical contexts, while 'comercial' is used for daily business and advertisements.
Can I use 'mercantil' to describe a person?
Not usually. To describe a person involved in trade, you would use 'comerciante' (merchant) or 'negociante' (businessperson).
What is a 'buque mercante' versus 'buque mercantil'?
Actually, 'buque mercante' is the standard term for a merchant ship. While 'mercantil' means related to trade, 'mercante' is the specific word used for merchant vessels.