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How to Say "employer" in Spanish

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patrón

nounA1formal business context
Use 'patrón' when referring to your direct boss or supervisor in a business setting, especially in more informal or everyday conversations.

Examples

Mi patrón es muy estricto con la hora de llegada.

My boss is very strict about the arrival time.

empresario

/em-pre-SA-ryo//empɾeˈsaɾjo/

nounB1noun
Use 'empresario' to refer to the owner of a company or business, the person who provides employment, often in a broader or more formal economic context.
A man in a smart suit holding a briefcase and a smartphone, standing in front of a modern office building.

Examples

El empresario fundó su primera compañía a los veinte años.

The businessman founded his first company at age twenty.

Es un empresario muy respetado en el sector tecnológico.

He is a very respected businessman in the tech sector.

Muchos empresarios asistieron a la conferencia sobre economía.

Many business owners attended the conference on economics.

Male vs. Female

This specific word 'empresario' refers to a man. If you are talking about a woman, you must change the ending to -a to make it 'empresaria'.

Using 'el' or 'un'

Like most jobs, use 'un' when describing what someone is (e.g., 'Es un empresario'), but use 'el' when talking about a specific person we already know.

Business vs. Businessman

Mistake: “Él tiene un empresario exitoso.”

Correction: Él tiene una empresa exitosa (o él es un empresario exitoso).

Patrón vs. Empresario

Learners often confuse 'patrón' and 'empresario'. Remember that 'patrón' usually refers to your direct supervisor or boss, while 'empresario' refers to the owner of the business or someone who creates jobs on a larger scale.

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