If you're looking to conduct business in Spanish-speaking countries or with Spanish-speaking clients, learning key business transaction vocabulary is crucial. Whether you're buying, selling, negotiating, or closing deals, these essential Spanish terms will help you navigate the world of business transactions with confidence. Let's dive into some of the most important business vocabulary you'll need!
One of the first things you'll need to know when conducting business in Spanish are the basic words for buying and selling.
Tenemos que ir a comprar algo de comer.
We have to go buy something to eat.
Caption 40, Extr@: Extra en español Ep. 1 - La llegada de Sam - Part 4
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vamos a vender productos
we're going to sell products
Caption 12, Santuario para burros Tienda solidaria
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Vas a tener que pagar más dinero.
You're going to have to pay more money.
Caption 9, Fermín Frases y expresiones - Part 2
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These three verbs form the foundation of any business transaction. You might hear them in various contexts, from small retail purchases to large corporate deals.
When discussing business transactions, you'll need vocabulary to describe what you're buying or selling.
¿Ustedes vienen a hacer un negocio y no tienen plata para la mercancía?
You guys come to do business, and you don't have money for the merchandise?
Caption 44, Pablo Escobar, el patrón del mal Capítulo 1 - Part 6
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estamos ofreciendo productos de calidad,
are offering quality products,
Caption 10, Otavalo Taller Milmarte
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El comercio internacional se refiere a la compra y venta de bienes y servicios entre países.
International trade refers to the buying and selling of goods and services between countries.
Captions 7-8, Vocabulario de noticias Economía - Part 2
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La producción interna de suministros ha disminuido
The internal production of supplies has decreased
Caption 45, Zulbany y Micheel La situación en Venezuela
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Once you've established what you're buying or selling, you'll likely need to negotiate the terms.
que era trabajar con vino y hacer un negocio.
which was to work with wine and create a business.
Caption 15, Montserrat Cata de vinos - Part 1
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nosotros vamos a cotizar más bajo,
we are going to quote lower
Caption 64, Muñeca Brava 2 Venganza - Part 4
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yo voy a hablar con el señor Martínez, a hacerle una oferta también.
I'm going to talk to Mister Martínez, to make him an offer too.
Caption 17, Confidencial: Asesino al Volante Capítulo 4 - Part 5
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Además, me han regalado un veinticinco por ciento de descuento
In addition, they gave me a twenty-five percent discount
Caption 19, Fermín y Manuel El pasado - Part 2
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Por cierto, el precio se puede negociar; a eso lo llamamos en español "regatear".
By the way, the price can be negotiated; in Spanish we call that "regatear" [to bargain].
Caption 35, Fuengirola Mercado
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These terms are essential when discussing prices and trying to reach an agreement that benefits both parties.
After negotiations, it's time to finalize the deal using these important terms.
que realizan transacciones de productos financieros.
that carry out financial product transactions.
Caption 10, Vocabulario de noticias Finanzas - Part 3
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La última noticia es que habíamos conseguido un contrato de larga duración.
The latest news is that we had gotten a long-term contract.
Caption 14, Negocios Problemas laborales - Part 3
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Cuando llegamos a enero y tenemos estas facturas y estas cuentas,
When we get to January and we have these invoices and these bills,
Caption 14, Cuentas claras Sobreviviendo enero - Part 1
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se me lleva el recibo.
it takes the receipt from me.
Caption 31, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 2 - Part 14
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Building strong relationships is crucial in the business world, particularly in Spanish-speaking countries where personal connections often matter greatly.
Ah, y más que nada, que nos gusta mucho atender al cliente,
Oh, and more than anything, we really like to take care of the customer,
Caption 23, Yabla en Yucatán Jorge
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y el proveedor no ha retirado.
and the supplier has not removed.
Caption 23, Los Reporteros Sembrar, comer, tirar - Part 3
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Él es Rafael, es mi socio.
He's Rafael, he's my partner.
Caption 85, 75 minutos Gangas para ricos - Part 18
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These terms define the various relationships you'll establish while conducting business in Spanish.
Finally, here are some useful phrases that will help you sound more natural in business conversations:
Fue un placer hacer negocios con usted, ¿eh?
It was a pleasure doing business with you, huh?
Caption 43, Confidencial: El rey de la estafa Capítulo 5 - Part 7
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queremos montar un negocio
we want to start a business,
Caption 50, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 5 - Part 14
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y tiene el sentido de llegar a un acuerdo,
and has the sense of reaching an agreement,
Caption 29, Aprendiendo con Silvia Significados, usos y expresiones con "quedar" - Part 1
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Y, no, lo que pasa es que aparte le hice firmar un contrato.
And, no, the thing is that on top of that I made her sign a contract.
Caption 7, Muñeca Brava 18 - La Apuesta - Part 10
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Let's practice what we've just learned with the following brief conversation between a supplier and a business owner:
Ana: Buenos días, señor García. Soy Ana Rodríguez, representante de Suministros Globales. | Good morning, Mr. García. I'm Ana Rodríguez, representative of Global Supplies.
Sr. García: Estoy interesado en comprar nueva mercancía para mi tienda. | I'm interested in buying new merchandise for my store.
Ana: Podemos cotizarle precios competitivos si busca hacer un negocio a largo plazo. | We can quote you competitive prices if you're looking to make a long-term business deal.
Sr. García: Actualmente trabajo con otro proveedor, pero ¿ofrecen algún descuento? | I currently work with another supplier, but do you offer any discounts?
Ana: Para clientes nuevos, ofrecemos 15% en su primera transacción. | For new clients, we offer 15% off on their first transaction.
Sr. García: Suena bien, aunque tendré que regatear. ¿Podríamos llegar a un acuerdo de 20%? | Sounds good, though I'll have to bargain. Could we reach an agreement of 20%?
Ana: Podemos ofrecer 18%. Si le parece bien, podemos firmar un contrato hoy. | We can offer 18%. If that works for you, we can sign a contract today.
Sr. García: Me parece justo. Estoy pensando en montar un negocio adicional el próximo año. | That seems fair. I'm thinking about setting up a business next year.
Ana: Excelente. Prepararé la factura y le entregaremos su recibo cuando pague. | Excellent. I'll prepare the invoice and we'll give you your receipt when you pay.
If you're enjoying learning business vocabulary in Spanish, don't miss our "Vocabulario de noticias" series! This collection of 10 videos is perfect for beginners and intermediate learners who want to understand Spanish news related to finances, the economy, international politics, and the environment.
Carlos guides you through essential vocabulary that will help you follow business and economic news in Spanish-speaking media. Take your business Spanish to the next level by learning how these terms are used in real-world contexts!
Having these essential business transaction terms in your Spanish vocabulary is a great starting point for conducting business in Spanish-speaking environments. The more you practice using these terms in real-life situations, the more comfortable you'll become navigating business transactions in Spanish.
Remember that business practices may vary between different Spanish-speaking countries, so it's always good to research specific cultural business norms for the region you're working with.
Don't forget to send us your questions and comments about business vocabulary in Spanish. ¡Buena suerte con tus negocios!
Have you ever been traveling in a Spanish-speaking country and suddenly needed to explain that you weren't feeling well? Or perhaps you're preparing for a trip and want to make sure you can communicate effectively if you experience any health issues? Today, we're going to explore the various ways to express pain and discomfort in Spanish, from physical ailments to emotional distress.
Before we explore how to describe pain intensity and discuss medical treatments in Spanish, let's learn how to express immediate pain reactions. In English, we often say 'ouch!' when we feel sudden pain, but what do Spanish speakers say?
The most common pain exclamation in Spanish is "¡Ay!" (pronounced like the English word "eye"). This versatile expression is used throughout the Spanish-speaking world when someone experiences sudden pain:
¿Estás bien ahí? -Sí. Ay, ay... Acá.
Are you OK there? -Yes. Ouch, ouch... Here.
Captions 23-24, Yago 12 Fianza - Part 4
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The intensity of pain is often reflected by repeating "ay" multiple times or extending it:
Mild pain: "¡Ay!"
Moderate pain: "¡Ay, ay!"
Severe pain: "¡Ayyyyy!" (elongated)
Apart from the above expressions, some people may use the interjection "ayayay," to express pain. This common exclamation perfectly captures the experience of pain in Spanish-speaking cultures:
¡Ay, ayayay, ayayay, Flor! ¡Ouch!
Ay, ayayay, ayayay, Flor! Ouch!
Caption 13, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 2 - Part 1
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While "¡Ay!" is universal across Spanish-speaking countries, you might also hear these regional variations:
"¡Ouch!" (pronounced like English "ouch") - Used especially in Mexico and parts of Central America
"¡Uy!" - Used for both pain and surprise
"¡Ay Dios!" or "¡Ay Dios mío!" (Oh God! or Oh my God!) - Used for more intense pain
Ouch. Me quemé.
Ouch. I burned myself.
Caption 73, Recetas de cocina Arepas colombianas
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These exclamations are often followed by descriptions of the pain using the structures we've learned (me duele or tengo dolor de).
In Spanish, there are two main structures used to express physical pain:
This is the most common way to express pain in Spanish. The verb doler (to hurt) is used with the following structure:
Me duele + [singular body part]
Me duelen + [plural body part]
Let's see some examples from our video clips:
Me duele la cabeza.
My head hurts.
Caption 13, Raquel Expresiones para un festival de música.
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Y cuando me duelen las piernas de tanto jugar, mi abuelito me hace masajes con aceite de coco.
And when my legs hurt from playing for so long, my grandpa gives me massages with coconut oil.
Captions 48-49, Guillermina y Candelario Experimentos en la cocina
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Notice that the verb doler agrees with the body part (the thing that hurts), not with the person experiencing the pain. This is because grammatically, the body part is the subject of the sentence.
Another common structure is using the phrase tengo dolor de followed by the body part:
Tengo dolor de cabeza, ¿sí? -¡Ay, Fabiolita!
I have a headache, OK? -Oh, Fabiolita!
Caption 20, La Sucursal del Cielo Capítulo 1 - Part 11
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Aún tengo dolor y uso de vez en cuando
I still have pain, and I wear, once in a while,
Caption 43, Aprendiendo con Silvia Vacaciones y urgencias - Part 2
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Being able to describe the type and intensity of pain you're experiencing can help others understand your situation better:
La salud, muy mal. Me duele mucho la cabeza
My health, very badly. My head hurts a lot
Captions 34-35, El Aula Azul La Doctora Consejos: Subjuntivo y condicional
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"¿Por qué no llevas tú la moto? Me duele mucho la mano".
"Why don't you drive the motorcycle? My hand really hurts."
Caption 16, Fermín y Manuel El verbo "llevar" - Part 3
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From our video with Raquel and the doctor, we can learn important phrases for a medical consultation:
Usted dirá: ¿Qué le ocurre? Verá, no me encuentro muy bien. He dormido mal porque he estado toda la noche tosiendo. Y me puse el termómetro y marcaba treinta y ocho grados. Tengo fiebre. ¿Y desde cuándo tiene usted estos síntomas? Mal, mal, desde el lunes. Pero el domingo por la noche, ya me dolía la cabeza. ¿Tiene usted tos fuerte? ¿Le rasca la garganta? Sí, me pica. Sobre todo cuando toso fuerte.
Will you tell me: What's going on with you? You see, I don't feel very well. I have slept badly because I was coughing all night. And I used the thermometer and it read thirty-eight degrees [Celsius]. I have a fever. And since when have you had these symptoms? Badly, badly, since Monday. But on Sunday night, my head was already hurting. Do you have a strong cough? Is your throat scratchy? Yes, it itches me. Especially when I cough strongly.
Captions 8-19, Raquel Visitar al Médico
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Similarly, in Cleer's consultation, we see how to describe symptoms:
Cleer, cuénteme, ¿qué puedo hacer por usted? Doctora, hace cuatro días tengo mucha tos y dolor en todo el cuerpo.
Cleer, tell me, what can I do for you? Doctor, for four days now I've had a bad cough and pain in my whole body.
Captions 6-7, Cita médica La cita médica de Cleer - Part 2
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In both doctor consultations, we see vocabulary related to medications:
From Cleer's visit:
Le voy a recetar Paracetamol. Esto le ayudará para el dolor en el cuerpo y por si le sube fiebre. También le recetaré un jarabe. El Paracetamol se lo toma cada seis horas durante siete días y el jarabe se lo toma tres veces al día hasta que lo termine. Intente beber agua por favor.
I'm going to prescribe Paracetamol. This will help for your body pain and in case you get a fever. I will also prescribe you a syrup. You take the Paracetamol every six hours for seven days and you take the syrup three times a day until you finish it. Try to drink water, please.
Captions 24-29, Cita médica La cita médica de Cleer - Part 2
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From Raquel's visit:
Se va a tomar usted este antibiótico. Durante siete días. Si usted ve que al tercer o cuarto día se encuentra mejor, no suspenda el tratamiento.
You are going to take this antibiotic. For seven days. If you see that by the third or fourth day you feel better, don't stop the treatment.
Captions 28-31, Raquel Visitar al Médico
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Once you have a prescription, you'll need to find a pharmacy. Here are some useful phrases:
"¿Dónde queda la farmacia más cercana?"
"Where's the nearest pharmacy?"
Caption 48, Aprendiendo con Silvia Significados, usos y expresiones con "quedar" - Part 1
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o, "Disculpe, ¿hay una farmacia por aquí?"
or, "Excuse me, is there a pharmacy around here?"
Caption 11, Curso de español Direcciones en la ciudad
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When communicating about pain or discomfort in Spanish, having a rich vocabulary can help you explain your symptoms more precisely. Here's a comprehensive list of terms to help you describe different types of pain and related medical conditions:
Dolor agudo - Acute/sharp pain
Dolor crónico - Chronic pain
Dolor punzante - Stabbing pain
Dolor palpitante - Throbbing pain
Dolor sordo - Dull pain
Dolor ardiente - Burning pain
Calambres - Cramps
Hormigueo - Tingling
Entumecimiento - Numbness
Picazón - Itching
Dolor de muelas - Toothache
Dolor de oídos - Earache
Fiebre - Fever
Náuseas - Nausea
Mareos - Dizziness
Vómitos - Vomiting
Diarrea - Diarrhea
Estreñimiento - Constipation
Tos - Cough
Congestión - Congestion
Fatiga - Fatigue
Erupciones - Rashes
Inflamación - Inflammation
Hinchazón - Swelling
Estornudar - To sneeze
Toser - To cough
Vomitar - To vomit
Sentirse mareado/a - To feel dizzy
Tener escalofríos - To have chills
Me siento débil - I feel weak
No puedo dormir - I can't sleep
Estoy resfriado/a - I have a cold
Tengo gripe - I have the flu
Estoy enfermo/a - I'm sick
Necesito descansar - I need to rest
¿Es contagioso? - Is it contagious?
In most Spanish-speaking countries, you'll find pharmacies (farmacias) quite easily in urban areas. They often have a green cross sign that may be illuminated at night. Some medications that require prescriptions in countries like the United States are available over the counter in many Spanish-speaking countries, though this varies by country and medication. When visiting a doctor, you might encounter terms like:
médico de cabecera (primary care physician)
consulta (doctor's appointment or office)
urgencias (emergency room)
seguro médico (health insurance)
Being able to express pain in Spanish is an essential skill, especially when traveling. Remember the two main structures: "Me duele/duelen + body part" and "Tengo dolor de + body part." With these structures and the vocabulary we've covered, you'll be well-prepared to communicate any discomfort you might experience and seek appropriate medical help.
Do you have any experiences with expressing pain in Spanish? Have you ever needed to visit a doctor or pharmacy while traveling in a Spanish-speaking country? Let us know and don't forget to send us your comments and questions.
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