Inklingo
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propietario

/pro-pyeh-TAHR-ee-oh/

owner

A smiling cartoon person standing proudly in front of a small, brightly colored house, holding up a large, shiny key, symbolizing ownership.

Depicting an owner (propietario) holding the key to their house.

propietario(noun)

mA2

owner

?

General term for someone who owns something

,

proprietor

?

Owner of a business or store

Also:

landlord

?

Owner of a rental property (especially in formal contexts)

📝 In Action

El propietario del coche nuevo vive en el tercer piso.

A2

The owner of the new car lives on the third floor.

Necesitas hablar con el propietario del restaurante sobre la reserva.

B1

You need to speak with the proprietor of the restaurant about the reservation.

Los inquilinos se quejaron al propietario por el ruido.

B2

The tenants complained to the landlord about the noise.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • dueño (owner (more common in casual speech))
  • amo (master/owner (often of pets or land))

Antonyms

  • inquilino (tenant)
  • arrendatario (lessee/renter)

Common Collocations

  • propietario de la vivienda – homeowner
  • propietario único – sole owner

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Change

Since this word ends in '-o', it changes to '-a' for women: 'la propietaria' (the female owner). This is a standard pattern for Spanish nouns describing people.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Formality

Mistake: "Using 'propietario' in very casual talk about small items."

Correction: For casual contexts, especially simple possessions, use 'dueño'. Use 'propietario' for official or formal ownership (houses, companies).

⭐ Usage Tips

Legal Context

When dealing with official paperwork, contracts, or legal matters involving real estate, always use 'propietario'.

A golden crown resting on a red velvet pillow, completely surrounded and protected by a sturdy black iron fence with a closed gate, illustrating exclusive ownership or proprietary nature.

An image showing exclusive access to an item, representing something proprietary (propietario).

propietario(adjective)

mB2

proprietary

?

Relating to ownership or exclusive rights

Also:

owning

?

Describing a person or entity that owns something

📝 In Action

La empresa propietaria de la marca decidió retirarla del mercado.

B2

The owning company of the brand decided to withdraw it from the market.

Debemos respetar los derechos propietarios de este software.

C1

We must respect the proprietary rights of this software.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • exclusivo (exclusive)
  • privado (private)

💡 Grammar Points

Agreement

As an adjective, 'propietario' must match the noun it describes in number and gender: 'las empresas propietarias' (the female/plural owning companies).

⭐ Usage Tips

Context Clue

If 'propietario' appears right after a noun it describes (e.g., 'la compañía propietaria'), it is functioning as an adjective.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: propietario

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the feminine form of 'owner'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

propiedad(property, ownership) - noun
poseer(to possess, to own) - verb
propietaria(female owner) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'propietario' and 'dueño'?

'Propietario' is the formal, often legal, term for an owner, used widely for real estate, contracts, and business titles. 'Dueño' is the common, everyday word for 'owner' and is used in almost all casual contexts.

Can 'propietario' be used for pet owners?

Yes, but it is much more common to use 'dueño' or 'amo' (master) when referring to the owner of a pet or animal.