Inklingo

patronal

pah-tro-NAHL/patɾoˈnal/

patronal

Also: of the patron saint
A colorful statue of a saint being carried through a town square decorated with colorful flags.

📝 In Action

Mañana empiezan las fiestas patronales del pueblo.

A2

The town's patron saint festivals start tomorrow.

El 15 de agosto es el día patronal de nuestra ciudad.

B1

August 15th is our city's patron saint day.

La procesión patronal recorrió las calles principales.

B2

The patron saint procession went through the main streets.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • fiestas patronalespatron saint festivals
  • día patronalpatron saint's day

employer-related, management

Also: business
Adjectivem/fB2formal
A person in a business suit shaking hands with an employee in a bright office setting.

📝 In Action

La propuesta patronal no fue aceptada por los trabajadores.

B2

The management's proposal was not accepted by the workers.

Hubo una reunión entre el sindicato y la asociación patronal.

B2

There was a meeting between the union and the employers' association.

El cierre patronal dejó a la fábrica sin actividad.

C1

The lockout (employer-led shutdown) left the factory inactive.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • asociación patronalemployers' association
  • cierre patronallockout (employer shutdown)

employers' association

Also: management board
NounfC1formal
A group of diverse business owners sitting together around a large round table in a meeting room.

📝 In Action

La patronal exige una bajada de impuestos.

C1

The employers' association demands a tax cut.

El sindicato está negociando el convenio con la patronal.

C1

The union is negotiating the agreement with the employers' association.

La patronal del transporte convocó una huelga.

C2

The transport employers' group called a strike.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • empresariado (the body of employers)
  • patronato (board of trustees/patrons)

Antonyms

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: patronal

Question 1 of 3

If you are going to a 'fiesta patronal', what are you celebrating?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
patrón(boss / patron saint)Noun
patrocinar(to sponsor)Verb
patrocinio(sponsorship)Noun
patronazgo(patronage)Noun
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

From the Spanish word 'patrón' (boss or protector), which comes from the Latin 'patronus', meaning a defender or a former master who protected his freed slaves.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: patronalEnglish: patronalPortuguese: patronal

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'patronal' related to the word for father (padre)?

Distantly. Both come from the Latin 'pater' (father), but 'patronal' comes specifically from 'patronus' (protector/boss). In modern Spanish, 'patronal' is for bosses or saints, and 'paternal' is for fathers.

Can I use 'patronal' to describe my personal boss?

Not usually. 'Patronal' is used for groups, associations, or the 'management side' in general. For your specific boss, you would just use 'de mi jefe' or 'de mi patrona'.

Is 'la patronal' used in Latin America?

Yes, it is understood everywhere, though in some countries like Mexico, 'fiestas patronales' is much more common than using 'la patronal' for business management.