pagador
Lemma Details
Translation: payer; paymaster; bill payer
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: Derived from the verb 'pagar' (to pay) + the suffix '-dor' which indicates the agent who performs an action. 'Pagar' comes from Latin 'pacare' meaning 'to pacify' or 'to appease', which evolved to mean 'to satisfy a debt'. The connection between payment and pacification reflects how settling debts brings peace between parties. The English word 'pay' shares this Latin root.
Commonality: 60%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Él es un buen pagador y siempre salda sus deudas a tiempo.
He is a good payer and always settles his debts on time.
El pagador de la empresa se encarga de los salarios.
The company's paymaster is in charge of salaries.
Necesitamos un pagador confiable para este proyecto.
We need a reliable payer for this project.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'pagador' as 'pay-a-door' – the person who pays at the door or entrance.
- The '-dor' ending in Spanish often indicates a person who does something, like 'jugador' (player) or 'trabajador' (worker).
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, being a 'buen pagador' (good payer) is considered an important aspect of one's financial reputation. Many businesses and financial institutions keep records of 'pagadores' to determine creditworthiness.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Pagador' is a noun meaning 'payer' while 'pagado' is the past participle of 'pagar' meaning 'paid'.
Confused word:
La factura ya está pagada.
The invoice is already paid.
Notes: The difference is similar to 'payer' vs 'paid' in English.
Mnemonic: 'Pagador' ends with '-dor' (doer) indicating a person, while 'pagado' ends with '-ado' indicating something that has been done.
Explanation: 'Pagador' is a person who pays, while 'pagadero' is an adjective meaning 'payable' or a place where payments are made.
Notes: 'Pagadero' can refer to both when something is due to be paid and where it should be paid.
Mnemonic: Think of '-dor' for person, '-dero' for place or condition.