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"Candidato" is a noun which is often translated as "candidate", and "postulante" is a noun which is often translated as "applicant". Learn more about the difference between "candidato" and "postulante" below.
el candidato, la candidata(
kahn
-
dee
-
dah
-
toh
)This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
1. (contender)
2. (nominee)
a. candidate
Propuse al Lic. Ruiz como candidato al puesto de gerente.I recommended Mr. Ruiz as a candidate for the management position.
a. candidate
Los niños y los ancianos son candidatos a contraer la enfermedad.Children and old people are candidates for contracting this disease.
4. (colloquial) (admirer) (River Plate)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. suitor (masculine)
¡Qué linda es esta chica! Seguro que tendrá muchos candidatos y admiradores.What an attractive girl she is! She must have lots of suitors and admirers.
b. would-be boyfriend (masculine)
La actriz divorciada tiene una multitud de candidatos.The divorced actress has a whole host of would-be boyfriends.
c. would-be girlfriend (feminine)
Enrique prefiere quedarse soltero aunque tiene muchas candidatas.Enrique would rather remain unmarried although he has a lot of would-be girlfriends.
5. (colloquial) (old-fashioned) (naive person) (River Plate)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
a. sucker (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Eres un candidato si te crees semejante barbaridad.You're a sucker if you believe that nonsense.
el postulante, la postulante(
pohs
-
too
-
lahn
-
teh
)This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
1. (aspirant) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. applicant
Los postulantes al puesto de traductor deberán realizar una prueba de tradución en nuestras oficinas.Applicants for the position of translator must do a translation test in our office.
b. candidate
Los postulantes tienen que enviar sus currículums y una carta de recomendación.Candidates must send their résumés and a letter of recommendation.
2. (religious)
a. postulant
Uno de los postulantes en el monasterio no está seguro si quiere iniciar el noviciado.One of the postulants in the monastery isn't sure about entering the novitiate.
b. candidate
La mayoría de los postulantes ya leyó la Biblia al menos una vez.The majority of the candidates have read the Bible at least once.
3. (politics) (Costa Rica) (Mexico) (South America)
Regionalism used in Costa Rica
Regionalism used in Mexico
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
a. candidate
El postulante socialista se bajó de las elecciones.The socialist candidate withdrew from the elections.
4. (occupation)
a. collector
El postulante pasará por las casas de esta colonia después del mediodía.The collector will visit the houses in this neigborhood after midday.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
5. (aspirant)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Era la primera vez que había una mujer entre los candidatos postulantes para ser presidente.It was the first time there was a woman among the candidates running for president.
Había 13 países postulantes para ser sede del Mundial.There were 13 countries applying to host the World Cup.
