negocio
“negocio” means “business” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
business
Also: store, shop
📝 In Action
Mi tío tiene un negocio de zapatos en el centro.
A1My uncle has a shoe business downtown.
Abrir un negocio propio es mi sueño.
A2Opening my own business is my dream.
El negocio de la esquina vende frutas frescas.
A2The store on the corner sells fresh fruit.
deal
Also: transaction, bargain
📝 In Action
Hicimos un buen negocio al comprar esta casa.
B1We made a good deal buying this house.
El negocio se cerró con un apretón de manos.
B2The deal was closed with a handshake.
Vender el coche por ese precio fue un mal negocio.
B1Selling the car for that price was a bad deal.
affair
Also: matter, thing, mess
📝 In Action
El divorcio de mis padres fue un negocio muy complicado.
B2My parents' divorce was a very complicated affair.
¡Vaya negocio en el que te has metido!
C1What a mess you've gotten yourself into!
Arreglar los papeles de la visa es todo un negocio.
B2Sorting out the visa paperwork is quite a whole thing/ordeal.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: negocio
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'negocio' to mean a specific deal or transaction?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'negotium', which is a combination of 'nec' (not) and 'otium' (leisure, rest). So, a 'negocio' is literally 'not-leisure'—in other words, work or business!
First recorded: Around the 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between 'negocio' and 'empresa'?
Think of it like 'business' vs. 'company' in English. 'Negocio' is a very broad term for any commercial activity, from a street cart to a law firm. 'Empresa' usually refers to a more structured, formal, and often larger organization or corporation. You'd say 'una pequeña empresa' (a small company) but you're more likely to call a huge multinational an 'empresa' than a 'negocio'.
How do I say 'I'm here on business'?
You would use the plural form and a preposition: 'Estoy aquí por negocios.' This is a set phrase where 'negocios' means the general activity of business, not one specific company.