Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| suplente | /suˈplente/ | common gender |
| sustituto | /sustiˈtuto/ | masculine |
| delegado | /deleˈɡado/ | masculine |
| representante | /repɾesenˈtante/ | common gender |
| adjunto | /adˈxunto/ | masculine |
The term you choose for deputy depends heavily on the specific nature of the role, whether it is a temporary replacement, a political official or an assistant.
Which one should you use?
The word suplente is used when someone acts as a deputy specifically to fill a vacancy or a temporary absence, similar to a substitute or an alternate. If the person has been specifically tasked or empowered by a higher authority to act on their behalf, use delegado, which functions as a delegate. For a deputy who serves as an assistant or an adjunct to a specific official or position, use the more formal adjunto.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word representante is a common-gender noun, which means the form remains the same for both masculine and feminine. You only change the article (el/la) to indicate gender.
How do you pronounce it?
/suˈplente/
Did you know?
- In some Latin American countries, a diputado is the specific term for a deputy in a legislative assembly, a distinction not covered by the general term representante.
- In Spanish sports culture, a suplente is the term used for a substitute player on the bench, making it the most common word for a backup in athletic contexts.
- The word suplente shares a root with the English word 'supply'. Both come from the Latin 'supplere', which means to fill up or complete a gap.
Examples in context
- Él será mi suplente mientras esté fuera.He will be my deputy while I am away.This sentence shows how to use suplente to describe someone filling a role during an absence.Tatoeba #1424728 by peibolvig, translation #247059 by CM
- El diputado se dirigió al parlamento para presentar la nueva ley.The deputy addressed the parliament to present the new law.
- Los suplentes tomaron el lugar de los diputados ausentes en la reunión.The substitutes took the place of the absent deputies in the meeting.
- La representante del pueblo expresó su opinión durante el debate.The representative of the people expressed her opinion during the debate.
- Necesitamos un suplente para la reunión de mañana.We need a deputy for tomorrow's meeting.
- Ella actuará como suplente en el comité.She will act as the deputy on the committee.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are discussing a project meeting.
- JavierNo puedo ir a la sesión hoy.I cannot go to the session today.
- Lucía¿Tienes algún suplente que pueda ir en tu lugar?Do you have a deputy who can go in your place?
- JavierSí, mi colega puede cubrirme.Yes, my colleague can cover for me.
- LucíaPerfecto, avisaré al equipo entonces.Perfect, I will let the team know then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “deputy” translations and entries suplente, sustituto, delegado, representante, adjunto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries suplente, sustituto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
