cliente
/ˈkljente/feminine, masculine
The Spanish word for 'client' is cliente.
cliente is used to describe a person who receives services. In Spanish, cliente can refer to both a professional client (like in law or consulting) and a retail customer, whereas English often distinguishes between 'client' and 'customer'.
Meaning: a customer or receiver of services (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
While cliente is the standard form for both genders, in many regions, the feminine form clienta is used for a female client.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of cliente is clientes. For a female client, you may use la cliente or la clienta depending on the regional preference.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkljente/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word cliente comes from the Latin clientem, which is rooted in the verb clueō, meaning 'to be called' or 'to be esteemed'.
- While cliente is used broadly, if you are in a restaurant, a waiter is more likely to refer to you as comensal (diner) rather than a cliente.
- In many Spanish-speaking business contexts, you might hear the term el cliente misterioso to refer to a 'mystery shopper' who evaluates service quality undercover.
Examples in context
- Estoy con un cliente.I'm with a client.This sentence shows how to use cliente to say you are currently with one.Tatoeba #1891220 by hayastan, translation #1891160 by CK
- Había quedado con un cliente.I had met with a client.This sentence uses cliente to describe a previous meeting.Tatoeba #6677040 by arh, translation #8395214 by helloroto
- El cliente parecía satisfecho.The client seemed satisfied.This sentence uses cliente to describe a client's level of satisfaction.Tatoeba #1104959 by Shishir, translation #9724399 by Nylez
- ¡Hola Juan, cómo estás? Eres un cliente habitual y quería agradecerte por tu lealtad.Hi Juan, how are you? You're a regular client, and I wanted to thank you for your loyalty.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are talking in their office.
- MaríaAlejandro, ¿quién es el nuevo cliente?Alejandro, who is the new client?
- AlejandroEs una cliente de Madrid.She is a client from Madrid.
- María¿Cuándo llega la cliente a la oficina?When does the client arrive at the office?
- AlejandroLlega en diez minutos.She arrives in ten minutes.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “client” translations and entries cliente, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cliente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
