inquilino
/inkiˈlino/
The English word tenant is inquilino in Spanish. Wiktionary also lists arrendatario.
Meaning: one who pays a fee in return for the use of land, etc. (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| inquilino | /inkiˈlino/ | |
| arrendatario | /arendaˈtaɾjo/ | masculine |
A tenant is someone who pays a fee in return for the use of land, etc. In everyday conversation, you will most often use the word inquilino to refer to a renter.
Which one should you use?
While inquilino is the standard, everyday term for a tenant, arrendatario refers specifically to a lessee or a person under a lease agreement. The opposite of an inquilino is a casero, which refers to a landlord or landlady.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, inquilino is the most widely used term for both formal and informal conversations. However, in specific Argentine legal contexts, the word locatario is also used to mean tenant.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a female tenant, use the feminine form inquilina.
How do you pronounce it?
/inkiˈlino/
Did you know?
- In some rural areas, a casero is not the owner of the property but rather a caretaker hired by the landlord to manage the land.
- The word inquilino is a learned borrowing from Latin, meaning it entered Spanish through formal scholarly channels rather than evolving naturally from common spoken Latin.
- In some historical contexts across the Spanish-speaking world, an inquilino was not just a renter of a house, but specifically a person who worked a piece of land in exchange for a portion of the harvest.
Examples in context
- ¿Eres inquilino o casero?Are you a tenant or homeowner?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is an inquilino or a homeowner.Tatoeba #13649221 by Seael, translation #8893073 by sundown
- El inquilino pagó el alquiler puntualmente.The tenant paid the rent on time.
- El contrato del inquilino está por vencer.The tenant's contract is about to expire.
- El arrendatario tiene derecho a ciertas mejoras en la propiedad.The tenant has the right to some improvements in the property.
- El arrendatario debe dar aviso previo al propietario para abandonar la vivienda.The tenant must give prior notice to the landlord to vacate the property.
- El inquilino paga la renta cada mes.The tenant pays the rent every month.
- Buscamos un inquilino para el apartamento.We are looking for a tenant for the apartment.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are discussing a rental property.
- Alejandro¿Es un inquilino amable?Is he a kind tenant?
- LucíaSí, es un inquilino muy responsable.Yes, he is a very responsible tenant.
- AlejandroMe alegra saber eso.I am glad to know that.
- LucíaÉl cuida muy bien la casa.He takes very good care of the house.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tenant” translations and entries inquilino, arrendatario, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries arrendatario, inquilino, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
