Inklingo

How to Say "to hire" in Spanish

English → Spanish

contratar

cohn-trah-TARkontɾaˈtaɾ

verbA2general
Use this word when you are officially employing someone for a job, often on a more permanent or professional basis.
A professional manager in a suit shaking hands with a cheerful person who is holding a folder, signifying a new job hire.

Examples

La empresa necesita contratar a tres ingenieros nuevos.

The company needs to hire three new engineers.

Contratamos un equipo de limpieza para la oficina.

We hired a cleaning team for the office.

Si te contratan, tendrás un buen salario.

If they employ you, you will have a good salary.

Using the Personal 'a'

When 'contratar' refers to hiring a specific person or people, you must use the preposition 'a' before the person: 'Vamos a contratar a María.'

Forgetting the Personal 'a'

Mistake: “Quieren contratar un nuevo chef.”

Correction: Quieren contratar **a** un nuevo chef. (Always use 'a' before a direct human object.)

emplear

em-pleh-AHRem.ple.ˈaɾ

verbB1general
This word is used for taking someone on as a worker, often implying a more established or ongoing employment relationship within a company.
A manager shaking hands with a new worker in a bright office.

Examples

La fábrica emplea a más de quinientas personas.

The factory employs more than five hundred people.

Es difícil emplear a jóvenes sin experiencia previa.

It is difficult to hire young people without previous experience.

Si me emplean, empezaré el lunes.

If they hire me, I will start on Monday.

The Personal 'A'

When you employ a person (the object), you must use the word 'a' before them. Example: 'Empleo A un jardinero'.

Missing the Personal 'A'

Mistake: “La empresa emplea muchos trabajadores.”

Correction: La empresa emplea A muchos trabajadores. (In Spanish, we use 'a' when the action happens to a person).

alquilar

al-kee-LAHRalkiˈlaɾ

verbA1general
Use this word when you are renting an item or a space for a period of time, not when you are hiring a person.
A person handing a set of keys to another person in front of a small apartment building.

Examples

Queremos alquilar un coche para ir a la playa.

We want to rent a car to go to the beach.

Ella alquila un apartamento pequeño en el centro.

She rents a small apartment downtown.

A perfectly regular verb

Alquilar follows the standard pattern for -ar verbs, making it very predictable and easy to learn.

Confusing the direction

Mistake: “Using a different word for 'rent out'.”

Correction: In Spanish, 'alquilar' means both to pay to use something AND to let someone use your property for money. The context tells you which is which.

Hiring People vs. Renting Items

The most common mistake is using 'alquilar' when you mean to hire a person. Remember, 'alquilar' is for renting things like cars or apartments, while 'contratar' and 'emplear' are for hiring people for work.

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