empresa
/emˈpɾesa/
In Spanish, the word for company is empresa.
empresa is used to refer to a business or enterprise in a general sense, regardless of how it is incorporated.
Meaning: in non-legal context, any business, without respect to incorporation (noun)
Which one should you use?
While empresa refers to a business in a general sense, compañía is often used in more formal, legal or administrative contexts, such as in the term compañía de seguros (insurance company). Sociedad is a term utilized in legal documents or when referring specifically to a business partnership.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, empresa is frequently employed in both formal and informal settings, while sociedad is common when referring to a company in formal contexts. In Mexico, the term negocio may be utilized to refer to a company, particularly in informal conversations.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of empresa is empresas.
How do you pronounce it?
/emˈpɾesa/
Did you know?
- In historical contexts, an empresa referred to the personal emblems or mottos used by knights and nobles to signify their goals and identity.
- In Spanish, the word sociedad can mean both a 'company' and 'society' in a general sociological sense. The context determines whether you are talking about a business partnership or the community at large.
- Beyond business, empresa can describe a daunting or heroic feat, similar to the English word 'undertaking'. A person might describe a difficult personal goal or a dangerous mission as an empresa.
Examples in context
- Ha quebrado la empresa.The company has gone bankrupt.This sentence is useful for talking about a company going bankrupt using empresa.Tatoeba #2268065 by cueyayotl, translation #9737593 by 6dDcHYgMAg
- Ella decidió dejar la empresa.She decided to leave the company.This sentence is useful for describing a decision to leave a company using empresa.Tatoeba #3194504 by Shishir, translation #10113914 by DJ_Saidez
- La empresa está en bancarrota.The company went bankrupt.This sentence is useful for stating that a company is in bankruptcy using empresa.Tatoeba #6884177 by HAYACH, translation #49044 by Scott
- Nuestra compañía se dedica a la venta de productos electrónicosOur company is dedicated to the sale of electronic products
- Nuestra empresa está enfocada en la producción sostenibleOur company is focused on sustainable production
- La sociedad entre ambas compañías resultó en un proyecto innovadorThe partnership between both companies resulted in an innovative project
- Mi empresa está organizando un evento de caridadMy company is organizing a charity event
- 113 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are talking about their new job opportunities.
- Elena¿Es una empresa grande?Is it a large company?
- AlejandroSí, la empresa tiene muchos empleados.Yes, the company has many employees.
- ElenaMe gustaría trabajar en esa empresa.I would like to work in that company.
- AlejandroElena, esa empresa es muy buena.Elena, that company is very good.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry empresa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
