Spanish Conversation · Level 28
89 words
Spanish word
patrón
Pronunciation
IPA/paˈtɾon/
Meaning
- masculine nounemployer
Example
¿Conoces al patrón de la tienda?
Do you know the store's employer?
More examples
El patrón de la tienda llegó tarde.
The employer of the shop arrived late.
Core concept
Person or organization that hires and pays workers.
Common phrases
patrón de la tienda
employer of the shop
patrón de la compañía
employer of the company
Similar words
jefe: Immediate supervisor who instructs and oversees employees' day-to-day tasks.
gerente: Executive who plans and oversees a department's or company's work.
encargado: Person in charge of a shop's or department's daily operations.
dueño: Owner of a shop or company.
Definition in Spanish
Persona o entidad que contrata y paga a trabajadores y que ejerce autoridad sobre su trabajo.
Word origin
From Latin patronus meaning protector, the term passed through medieval Spanish as a sponsor or guardian and later narrowed to denote someone who hires and supervises workers.
Usage tips
- In everyday Spanish patrón can sound old-fashioned or carry an authoritarian tone, so jefe or empleador are more common in neutral conversation.
Other meanings
- patternnoun
- patronnoun
Opposites
- empleadoemployeenoun
- trabajadorworkernoun
Related words
- patronalemployer-sideadjective
- patronazgosponsorshipnoun
- patronizarsponsorverb