Inklingo

How to Say "firm" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “firm” is “empresa” — use 'empresa' for a general business or company, especially one providing professional services..

empresa🔊A1

Use 'empresa' for a general business or company, especially one providing professional services.

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compañíaA2

Use 'compañía' for a general business or company, similar to 'empresa' but often implying a slightly larger or more established entity.

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firme🔊A2

Use 'firme' as an adjective meaning solid or stable, referring to a physical object's sturdiness.

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estable🔊A2

Use 'estable' as an adjective meaning stable, often referring to a foundation, situation, or physical object's lack of movement.

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corporaciónB1

Use 'corporación' for a large, professional organization, often multinational, emphasizing its formal structure.

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firma🔊B1

Use 'firma' for a business, especially a professional service like a law or accounting firm.

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despacho🔊B1

Use 'despacho' to refer to the act of dispatching or shipping goods, or sometimes an office or study.

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decidido🔊B1

Use 'decidido' as an adjective meaning determined or resolute, referring to a person's strong conviction or attitude.

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organizaciónB1

Use 'organización' for a business entity or group, often used for non-profits or larger structured companies.

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English → Spanish

empresa

em-PREH-sah/emˈpɾesa/

nounA1general
Use 'empresa' for a general business or company, especially one providing professional services.
A brightly colored, stylized corporate building with large windows and a distinct, simple geometric symbol above the entrance, symbolizing a commercial organization.

Examples

Trabajo para una empresa de software muy grande.

I work for a very large software company.

Queremos fundar nuestra propia empresa el próximo año.

We want to start our own business next year.

El presidente de la empresa dio un discurso sobre las ventas.

The company president gave a speech about sales.

Always Feminine

Remember that 'empresa' is always a feminine word, so you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'la empresa', 'una empresa pequeña').

Gender Error

Mistake: “El empresa es grande.”

Correction: La empresa es grande. (Remember the ending '-a' often indicates feminine gender in Spanish nouns.)

compañía

nounA2general
Use 'compañía' for a general business or company, similar to 'empresa' but often implying a slightly larger or more established entity.

Examples

Mi hermano trabaja en una compañía de tecnología.

My brother works at a technology company.

firme

FEER-meh/ˈfiɾme/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'firme' as an adjective meaning solid or stable, referring to a physical object's sturdiness.
A massive, stable gray boulder resting immovably on a patch of green grass, illustrating stability.

Examples

Asegúrate de que la mesa esté firme antes de poner el jarrón.

Make sure the table is firm before you put the vase on it.

Caminamos por tierra firme después de salir del barco.

We walked on firm ground after getting off the boat.

Adjective Agreement

Like most Spanish adjectives, 'firme' changes its ending to match the thing it describes. However, 'firme' is one of those adjectives that works for both masculine and feminine things (el piso firme, la base firme).

estable

es-TAH-bleh/esˈtaβle/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'estable' as an adjective meaning stable, often referring to a foundation, situation, or physical object's lack of movement.
A large, perfectly balanced blue cube resting firmly on a flat green surface, illustrating physical firmness and stability.

Examples

Asegúrate de que la escalera esté estable antes de subir.

Make sure the ladder is stable before climbing.

El trípode mantuvo la cámara perfectamente estable.

The tripod kept the camera perfectly steady.

Adjective Placement

Like most descriptive adjectives, 'estable' usually goes after the noun it describes: 'una base estable' (a stable base).

Using 'Ser' vs. 'Estar'

Mistake: “La mesa es estable.”

Correction: La mesa está estable. (Use ESTAR when talking about a temporary state or condition, like whether an object is currently steady or wobbly.)

corporación

nounB1professional
Use 'corporación' for a large, professional organization, often multinational, emphasizing its formal structure.

Examples

Ella trabaja para una gran corporación multinacional.

She works for a large multinational corporation.

firma

FEER-mah/ˈfiɾma/

nounB1professional
Use 'firma' for a business, especially a professional service like a law or accounting firm.
A tall, modern, stylized skyscraper representing a large corporate business, set against a bright blue sky.

Examples

Trabaja para una firma de abogados muy prestigiosa.

She works for a very prestigious law firm.

Nuestra firma exporta productos a toda Europa.

Our company exports products all over Europe.

Esta es una firma de ropa de alta calidad.

This is a high-quality clothing brand.

Business Terminology

In business contexts, 'firma' often sounds more formal or specialized than 'empresa' (company) or 'negocio' (business).

despacho

des-PAH-choh/desˈpatʃo/

nounB1business/logistics
Use 'despacho' to refer to the act of dispatching or shipping goods, or sometimes an office or study.
An elegant, classical building facade featuring large columns, symbolizing a professional firm or business practice.

Examples

El despacho de la mercancía se retrasó por la aduana.

The dispatch (shipment) of the merchandise was delayed by customs.

Contratamos un despacho de arquitectura muy prestigioso.

We hired a very prestigious architecture firm.

Action Noun

In this sense, 'despacho' means the action of 'despachar' (to send or attend to), turning a verb action into a masculine noun.

decidido

deh-see-DEE-doh/de.θiˈði.ðo/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'decidido' as an adjective meaning determined or resolute, referring to a person's strong conviction or attitude.
A focused child firmly plants a small red flag on the top of a grassy mound, symbolizing determination and resolve.

Examples

Llegó al examen con una actitud muy decidida.

She arrived at the exam with a very determined attitude.

El presidente se mostró decidido a implementar los cambios.

The president showed himself to be resolute in implementing the changes.

Eres muy decidido, siempre sabes lo que quieres.

You are very determined; you always know what you want.

Adjective Agreement

Like all Spanish adjectives, 'decidido' must match the person or thing it describes in both gender and number: 'Ella es decidida' (She is determined) vs. 'Ellos son decididos' (They are determined).

organización

nounB1general/formal
Use 'organización' for a business entity or group, often used for non-profits or larger structured companies.

Examples

Ella trabaja para una organización no gubernamental.

She works for a non-governmental organization (NGO).

Business vs. Physical Stability

The most common confusion is between the words for businesses ('empresa', 'compañía', 'firma') and the words for physical stability ('firme', 'estable'). Remember that 'firme' and 'estable' are adjectives describing sturdiness, while the others are nouns referring to a commercial entity.

Related Translations

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