Inklingo

How to Say "owner" in Spanish

English → Spanish

dueño

nounA2general
Use 'dueño' for the general owner of a house, a pet, or an object when the context is straightforward.

Examples

¿Quién es el dueño de este coche rojo?

Who is the owner of this red car?

propietario

pro-pyeh-TAHR-ee-oh/pɾopjetaˈɾjo/

nounA2general
Use 'propietario' as a formal or general term for someone who legally owns property, like a house or a business.
A smiling cartoon person standing proudly in front of a small, brightly colored house, holding up a large, shiny key, symbolizing ownership.

Examples

El propietario del coche nuevo vive en el tercer piso.

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

Necesitas hablar con el propietario del restaurante sobre la reserva.

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

Los inquilinos se quejaron al propietario por el ruido.

The tenants complained to the landlord about the noise.

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.

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).

amo

/ah-moh//'a.mo/

nounB2informal/pet-specific
Use 'amo' specifically when referring to the owner of a pet, implying a close relationship, or historically, a master.
A person standing while gently petting a large, happy, loyal dog sitting obediently at their feet.

Examples

El perro espera felizmente a su amo.

The dog happily waits for its owner.

En la película, el sirviente era leal a su amo.

In the movie, the servant was loyal to his master.

Él se cree el amo del universo.

He thinks he's the master of the universe.

A Masculine Word

This word is masculine, so you say 'el amo' or 'un amo'. The word for a female master is 'el ama'. We use 'el' instead of 'la' to avoid the awkward 'la ama' sound, even though 'ama' is a feminine noun.

Confusing the Noun and Verb

Mistake: “'El perro tiene un amo.' (Thinking this means 'The dog has an I love.')”

Correction: The words 'un' or 'el' before 'amo' are your clue that it's the noun 'master/owner'. If it's by itself or after 'yo', it's the verb 'I love'.

patrón

nounA1business/employment
Use 'patrón' to refer to the owner of a business or establishment, often synonymous with 'boss'.

Examples

Mi patrón es muy estricto con la hora de llegada.

My boss is very strict about the arrival time.

Dueño vs. Propietario

Learners often confuse 'dueño' and 'propietario'. While both mean owner, 'dueño' is more common for everyday objects and pets, whereas 'propietario' often implies legal ownership, especially of real estate or businesses.

Related Translations

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