vendedor
Lemma Details
Translation: seller; salesperson; vendor; salesman; saleswoman
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: Derived from the verb 'vender' (to sell) + the suffix '-dor' which indicates the agent who performs an action. 'Vender' comes from Latin 'vendere' (to sell), which is a compound of 'venum' (sale) and 'dare' (to give). The English cognate 'vendor' shares the same Latin root, making this connection easy to remember. The '-dor' suffix in Spanish is equivalent to '-er' or '-or' in English agent nouns (like 'seller' or 'vendor').
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El vendedor me mostró varios modelos de teléfonos.
The salesperson showed me several phone models.
Ella trabaja como vendedora en una tienda de ropa.
She works as a saleswoman in a clothing store.
Los vendedores ambulantes ofrecen frutas frescas en el mercado.
The street vendors offer fresh fruits at the market.
El vendedor me convenció de comprar el seguro.
The salesman convinced me to buy the insurance.
Mnemonics
- Think 'vend-er' + '-dor' = 'one who vends/sells'
- Remember the English word 'vendor' which has the same meaning and similar pronunciation
- The '-dor' ending often indicates a person who does something (like 'jugador' = player)
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, 'vendedor' is a respected profession, especially in retail and commerce. Street vendors ('vendedores ambulantes') are common in many Latin American countries and form an important part of the informal economy. In Spain and Latin America, there's often a personal relationship between regular customers and their trusted 'vendedores'.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Vendedor' means 'seller' while 'comprador' means 'buyer' - they represent opposite sides of a transaction.
Notes: These words are often used together in discussions about commercial transactions.
Mnemonic: 'Vendedor' starts with 'V' for 'vender' (to sell); 'comprador' starts with 'C' for 'comprar' (to buy).
Explanation: 'Vendedor' (seller) and 'vencedor' (winner) look and sound similar but have completely different meanings. 'Vencedor' comes from 'vencer' (to win or defeat).
Confused word:
El vencedor del torneo recibió un trofeo.
The winner of the tournament received a trophy.
Notes: The difference is just one letter ('d' vs 'c') but the meanings are completely unrelated.
Mnemonic: 'Vendedor' has 'vend' (sell) in it; 'vencedor' has 'venc' (win) in it.