Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say "Business" in Spanish: Negocio, Empresa, and Asunto
Negocio · noun (masculine) · neh-GOH-see-oh
Business in Spanish depends on meaning: negocio (a business venture, deal, or shop), empresa (a company or firm), or asunto (an affair/matter, as in 'mind your own business'). Each covers a different facet of the English word.
neh-GOH-see-oh — four syllables, stress on GOH.
Mi tío abrió un negocio de comida mexicana en la esquina.
My uncle opened a Mexican food business on the corner.
Business in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for business, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| negocio | business | neh-GOH-see-oh | Default, widely understood |
| empresa | business | Universal (company, business entity) | |
| asunto | business | Universal (affair, as in 'none of your business') | |
| comercio | business | Universal (commerce, trade) |
How Native Speakers Use Negocio
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Commercial venture
Quiero montar mi propio negocio antes de los treinta.
I want to start my own business before thirty.
Negocio for a business you own or operate — the entrepreneurial sense.
Company/firm
Trabaja en una empresa de tecnología con oficinas en tres países.
She works at a tech business with offices in three countries.
Empresa for established companies and corporations.
Personal affair (none of your business)
Eso no es asunto tuyo, no te metas.
That's none of your business, don't get involved.
Asunto when business means personal affair or matter — the 'mind your own business' sense.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Negocio
Using negocio when you mean empresa
Incorrect: Google es un negocio muy grande. (for a corporation)
Correct: Google es una empresa muy grande.
Negocio implies a smaller venture or the act of doing business. For large corporations and established companies, empresa is the standard term. Negocio sounds like a small shop or side hustle.
Translating business trip as viaje de negocio (singular)
Incorrect: Estoy en un viaje de negocio.
Correct: Estoy en un viaje de negocios.
The set phrase is viaje de negocios (plural). Business in this context uses the plural form: mundo de los negocios (business world), hombre/mujer de negocios (businessman/woman).
Lock in Business Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Negocio used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using negocio in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Mi tío abrió un negocio de comida mexicana en la esquina. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Business in Spanish
- How do you say business in Spanish?
- Negocio (venture/shop/deal), empresa (company/firm), or asunto (affair/matter). For business studies: administración de empresas. Business trip: viaje de negocios. Doing business: hacer negocios.
- What's the difference between negocio and empresa?
- Negocio is a business venture, deal, or small operation (my uncle's negocio). Empresa is a formal company or corporation (una empresa multinacional). A negocio can grow into an empresa. In everyday speech, both can overlap for mid-sized businesses.
- How do you say mind your own business in Spanish?
- No es asunto tuyo (It's not your business/affair), Métete en tus asuntos (Mind your own affairs), or the blunter No te metas (Don't get involved). Tone determines whether these sound firm or rude.