cliente
El cliente está esperando en la recepción.
The customer is waiting at the reception.
A person or organization that buys goods or services from a business.
La empresa perdió un cliente importante por el mal servicio.
The company lost an important customer due to poor service.
Necesitamos satisfacer al cliente para mantener su lealtad.
We need to satisfy the customer to maintain their loyalty.
In business contexts, 'cliente' is often used interchangeably with 'cliente potencial' (potential customer) or 'cliente habitual' (regular customer).
In law, a party involved in a legal agreement or transaction.
El abogado revisó los términos del contrato con el cliente.
The lawyer reviewed the contract terms with the client.
In legal contexts, 'cliente' refers to a client, often in the context of professional services like law or consulting.
Collocations
Synonyms
Pro Tip
Gender Agreement
The feminine form is 'clienta' (e.g., 'La clienta está satisfecha'). However, 'cliente' is often used generically for both genders in modern usage.
Gold Rule
Formal vs. Informal
Use 'cliente' in formal or professional contexts. In very informal settings, 'cliente' might sound overly formal; consider 'comprador' or 'consumidor' instead.
Word Origin
From Latin 'cliens' (client, dependent), originally referring to a person under the protection of a patron in ancient Rome. The word entered Spanish through the Latin 'clientem'.
Usage Notes
In Spanish-speaking countries, 'cliente' is used broadly in business, law, and service industries. In informal contexts, 'cliente' can sometimes be shortened to 'cli' (e.g., 'un cli nuevo').