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How to Say "contractor" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “contractor” is “constructor” — use 'constructor' when referring to the person or company directly responsible for the physical act of building or constructing something, like a house or a road.

English → Spanish

constructor

kohn-strook-TOHRkonstɾukˈtoɾ

nounA2general
Use 'constructor' when referring to the person or company directly responsible for the physical act of building or constructing something, like a house or a road.
A person wearing a yellow hard hat and a safety vest, holding a hammer and building a wooden frame for a house.

Examples

El constructor terminó la casa en seis meses.

The builder finished the house in six months.

Necesitamos hablar con el constructor sobre los planos del edificio.

We need to talk to the contractor about the building's plans.

El constructor jefe supervisa a todos los obreros en la obra.

The head builder supervises all the workers at the construction site.

Using 'Ser' with Professions

When you say someone IS a builder, use the verb 'ser'. For example: 'Él es constructor' (He is a builder). Notice you don't usually need the word 'un' (a) before the profession unless you are adding an adjective.

Making it Feminine

To talk about a woman who builds or a female contractor, simply add an 'a' at the end: 'la constructora'. This same word is also used to refer to a building company.

Builder vs. Bricklayer

Mistake: “Using 'constructor' for every worker on a site.”

Correction: Use 'constructor' for the person in charge or the company. Use 'albañil' for the person physically laying the bricks or doing manual labor.

contratista

kon-tra-TEES-tahkontɾaˈtista

nounB1general
Choose 'contratista' for a person or company hired to perform a specific job or service, especially in construction or renovation, often managing a project rather than doing all the physical work.
A person wearing a yellow hard hat and a safety vest, holding a blueprint and standing in front of a house under construction.

Examples

El contratista terminó la remodelación de la cocina antes de tiempo.

The contractor finished the kitchen remodel ahead of schedule.

Necesitamos hablar con la contratista sobre el presupuesto del proyecto.

We need to talk to the (female) contractor about the project budget.

Muchos contratistas independientes trabajan para el gobierno.

Many independent contractors work for the government.

The '-ista' ending

Words ending in '-ista' in Spanish describe professions and stay the same for both men and women. You only change the word 'the' (el or la) to show gender.

Using it as an adjective

While it is a noun, you can use it right after another noun to describe it, like 'empresa contratista' (contracting company).

Don't say 'contratisto'

Mistake: “El contratisto es muy profesional.”

Correction: El contratista es muy profesional. (Even for men, the word always ends in -a).

contratado

kohn-trah-TAH-dohkontɾaˈtaðo

nounB2general
Use 'contratado' to refer to someone who has been hired or employed under a specific contract, often in a professional or employee context, rather than for a large construction project.
A colorful storybook illustration of a person sitting at a clean desk, working diligently with a simple tool, symbolizing an employee at work.

Examples

Cada nuevo contratado debe firmar un acuerdo de confidencialidad.

Every new employee must sign a confidentiality agreement.

Los contratados temporales no reciben los mismos beneficios que los fijos.

Temporary contractors do not receive the same benefits as permanent ones.

Adjective acting as Noun

This is a common pattern in Spanish: taking an adjective (like 'hired') and using it as a noun (like 'the hired one' or 'the employee'). You just need to add an article ('el', 'la', 'un', 'una') in front.

Constructor vs. Contratista

Learners often confuse 'constructor' and 'contratista'. Remember that 'constructor' specifically refers to the builder doing the physical construction, while 'contratista' is broader, covering the manager or company hired for the project, which might include construction but also other services.

Related Translations

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