trato
Lemma Details
Translation: deal; treatment; manner; agreement; interaction
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From the verb 'tratar' (to treat, to deal with), which comes from Latin 'tractare' meaning 'to handle, manage, deal with'. This Latin verb is a frequentative form of 'trahere' (to draw, drag). The English words 'treat', 'tract', and 'traction' share this Latin root, making it easier to connect the Spanish 'trato' with the concept of how one handles or deals with something or someone.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 60%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Cerramos el trato con un apretón de manos.
We closed the deal with a handshake.
El trato que recibí en ese hotel fue excelente.
The treatment I received at that hotel was excellent.
No me gusta su trato hacia los empleados.
I don't like his manner toward the employees.
Hicimos un trato: yo cocino y tú limpias.
We made a deal: I cook and you clean.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'trato' as how you 'treat' others or how a 'treaty' is an agreement between parties.
- Remember that a 'tract' in English is something handled or managed, just as a 'trato' in Spanish is how you handle a deal or relationship.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking business cultures, 'trato' often implies not just a formal agreement but also the relationship between parties. The concept of 'buen trato' (good treatment) is highly valued in social interactions across Spanish-speaking countries, emphasizing respect and courtesy.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Trato' is a noun meaning 'deal' or 'treatment', while 'trata' can be either a form of the verb 'tratar' (he/she/it treats) or a noun meaning 'trafficking' (as in human trafficking).
Confused word:
Él trata bien a sus clientes.
He treats his clients well.
Notes: When 'trata' is used as a noun, it often appears in the phrase 'trata de personas' (human trafficking), which has a very different and more serious connotation than 'trato'.
Mnemonic: 'Trato' (deal) ends in 'o' like 'acuerdo' (agreement), while 'trata' as a verb form is an action.
Explanation: 'Trato' refers to an informal agreement or manner of treatment, while 'tratado' is a formal treaty or treatise (written work).
Notes: 'Tratado' can also be the past participle of 'tratar', meaning 'treated'.
Mnemonic: 'Tratado' has more letters, suggesting something more formal or extensive than a simple 'trato'.