Inklingo

How to Say "vendor" in Spanish

English → Spanish

vendedor

ven-deh-DORben.deˈðoɾ

nounA1general
Use 'vendedor' for someone who sells goods or services directly to customers, especially in retail settings or on the street.
A smiling market vendor standing behind a simple wooden stall, holding a bright red apple out to a customer.

Examples

El vendedor ambulante ofrecía frutas frescas.

The street vendor was offering fresh fruit.

El vendedor de la tienda nos ofreció un descuento.

The salesperson at the store offered us a discount.

Necesitamos un buen vendedor para este nuevo producto.

We need a good seller for this new product.

Mi padre fue vendedor de coches durante veinte años.

My father was a car salesman for twenty years.

Gender Match

Since this word refers to a male person, you use the masculine article 'el' or 'un'. Remember that the female version is 'vendedora'.

Mixing up the action and the person

Mistake:La venta es muy buena.

Correction: El vendedor es muy bueno. ('Venta' means the sale or transaction; 'vendedor' is the person.)

proveedor

pro-beh-eh-DORpɾoβeeˈðoɾ

nounB1business
Use 'proveedor' for a supplier or business that sells products or services to other businesses, rather than directly to the public.
A friendly delivery person handing a large cardboard box to a shop owner at the door of a small bakery.

Examples

Nuestra empresa busca un nuevo proveedor de empaques.

Our company is looking for a new packaging supplier.

Necesitamos un nuevo proveedor de café para la oficina.

We need a new coffee supplier for the office.

El proveedor entregará los materiales mañana por la mañana.

The supplier will deliver the materials tomorrow morning.

Estamos comparando precios entre varios proveedores locales.

We are comparing prices between several local suppliers.

The -dor Ending

The ending '-dor' is like '-er' in English (think 'worker' or 'teacher'). It changes a verb into the person who does that action. Since 'proveer' means to provide, a 'proveedor' is a provider.

Making it Feminine

If the supplier is a woman or a feminine entity, just add an 'a' at the end: 'la proveedora'.

Using 'Provider' Spelling

Mistake:proveyer

Correction: proveedor (noun) or proveer (verb)

Vendedor vs. Proveedor

Learners often confuse 'vendedor' and 'proveedor' by using 'vendedor' when referring to a business supplier. Remember that 'vendedor' is for selling to the end consumer, while 'proveedor' is for business-to-business transactions.

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