Spanish word

contratar

Pronunciation

IPA/kontɾaˈtaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbhire

Example

Ella contrató a un asistente el mes pasado.

She hired an assistant last month.

Illustration for contratar (hire)

More examples

Quiero contratar a alguien para la contabilidad.

I want to hire someone for accounting.

Core concept

Paying a person or company to provide services under an agreement.

Common phrases

  • contratar a alguien

    hire someone

  • contratar servicios

    contract services

  • contratar un seguro

    take out insurance

Similar words

emplear: Makes someone an employee and pays them a salary to perform ongoing work.
reclutar: Seeks out and selects candidates to join an organization or group.
fichar: Formally signs and registers a player or employee to join a team or company under contract.
subcontratar: Hires another person or company to carry out part of a contracted job.

Definition in Spanish

Pagar a una persona o empresa para obtener un servicio o incorporar a alguien como trabajador mediante un acuerdo.

Word origin

It derives from Latin contractāre (con- 'together' + trahere 'to draw'), originally meaning 'make an agreement' and later used for engaging someone under a contract.

Usage tips

  • When the object is a person Spanish usually uses the personal a (contratar a alguien), and job ads often say se contrata to mean 'help wanted'.

Other meanings

  • contractverb
  • commissionverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word