patente
/paˈtente/feminine
The English phrase patent translates to the Spanish word patente.
As a noun, patente refers to a patent: a declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling or using the claimed invention for a specified period. You can use the term documento de patente when referring specifically to the patent document itself, and derechos de patente when discussing the rights associated with a patent.
Meaning: declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period (noun)
Which one should you use?
While patente is used as a noun to mean a patent, it can also function as an adjective meaning 'obvious' or 'evident'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina or Uruguay, patente is used as a general term for a vehicle license plate.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun patente is feminine and is typically used with the feminine article la. If you want to describe the action of obtaining a patent, use the verb patentar. This verb is transitive and is used with a direct object, such as patentar algo, to indicate what is being patented.
How do you pronounce it?
/paˈtente/
Did you know?
- While patente is the standard term, in some historical Spanish contexts, the phrase privilegio was used because patents were originally granted as personal favors from the Crown.
- The word patente comes from the Latin patentem, which means 'open' or 'evident'.
- The word patente can be used as an adjective to describe something that is 'glaringly obvious', such as una mentira patente meaning 'a blatant lie'.
Examples in context
- ¿Dónde está la oficina de patentes de Tokio?Where is the Tokyo patent office?This sentence is useful for locating a patent office using patente.Tatoeba #1469090 by marcelostockle, translation #433299 by Scott
- Carl Benz obtuvo en 1886 la patente por el primer automóvil.Carl Benz obtained in 1886 the patent for the first car.This sentence is useful for describing a historical instance of obtaining a patente.Tatoeba #2025486 by marcelostockle, translation #3678676 by OJR1
- Un derecho de patente es una propiedad importante.A patent right is an important property right.This sentence is useful for discussing patent rights using patente.Tatoeba #775948 by ekvintroj, translation #280532 by cafe
- Por favor, hágame saber si esta invención ya tiene patente en España.Please let me know if this invention already has a patent in Spain.
- Necesitamos revisar el documento de patente antes de proceder con la negociación.We need to review the patent document before proceeding with the negotiation.
- Como titular de los derechos de patente, tiene el control exclusivo sobre la comercialización de su invento.As the holder of the patent rights, you have exclusive control over the commercialization of your invention.
- Juan ha patentado su último invento, ¡es realmente innovador!Juan has patented his latest invention, it is truly innovative!
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are discussing a new product at a startup office.
- Elena¿Ya registraste la patente del nuevo software?Have you already registered the patent for the new software?
- MateoTodavía no, pero la patente está en proceso.Not yet, but the patent is in process.
- ElenaEs muy importante proteger esa patente pronto.It is very important to protect that patent soon.
- MateoTienes razón, Elena, lo haré esta semana.You are right, Elena, I will do it this week.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “patent” translations and entries patente, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries patente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
