el contrato
nounCEFR B2High frequency
What does “el contrato” mean in English?
contract
contract (el contrato marco/de servicio — formal legal agreement between parties governing terms and obligations)
Example sentences
Las partes revisarán el contrato detenidamente antes de firmarlo para asegurarse de que todos los términos son aceptables.
The parties will review the contract carefully before signing to ensure that all terms are acceptable.
Le envío el contrato revisado con los cambios acordados en nuestra última reunión resaltados.
I am sending you the revised contract with the changes agreed at our last meeting highlighted.
El contrato establece que cualquier modificación deberá acordarse por escrito y estar firmada por ambas partes.
The contract stipulates that any modification must be agreed in writing and signed by both parties.
How to use it
El contrato means 'the contract' — a formal legal agreement between parties. Key collocations at B2: firmar un contrato (to sign), redactar un contrato (to draft), revisar el contrato (to review), las cláusulas del contrato (the clauses), renovar / prorrogar un contrato (to renew/extend), incumplir el contrato (to breach), el contrato en vigor (the current contract), el contrato marco (framework agreement). Register: formal-legal to neutral; standard in all business correspondence.
Common mistake
El contrato takes different verbs depending on the stage: redactar (draft) → revisar (review) → negociar las cláusulas (negotiate clauses) → firmar (sign) → prorrogar (extend) → incumplir / rescinder (breach/terminate). Each verb represents a different phase. False cognate: 'contrato' is a true cognate of 'contract' — no confusion there, but learners should master the verb collocations rather than just the noun alone.