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"Por su cuenta" is a phrase which is often translated as "on his own", and "por cuenta propia" is a phrase which is often translated as "self-employed". Learn more about the difference between "por su cuenta" and "por cuenta propia" below.
por su cuenta(
pohr
soo
kwehn
-
tah
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
1. (alone)
a. on his own (masculine)
¿Su hijo todavía va de vacaciones con ustedes? - No, él hace ya dos años que se va por su cuenta.Does your son still go on vacation with you? - No, he's been going on his own for two years now.
b. on her own (feminine)
Ana dijo que no la esperáramos para ir al restaurante, que ya iría luego ella por su cuenta.Ana said not to wait for her to go to the restaurant, that she'd go later on her own.
2. (formal) (alone; singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
a. on your own
Puede visitar la ciudad con el grupo o hacerlo por su cuenta.You can visit the city with the group or do it on your own.
a. of his own accord (masculine)
Hoy mi hijo ha puesto la mesa por su cuenta, sin que yo se lo pidiera. Algo trama.My son set the table today of his own accord, without me asking him to do it. He's up to something.
b. of her own accord (feminine)
El profesor no le dijo lo que tenía que dibujar, lo hizo la niña por su cuenta. - ¡Tan pequeña y qué imaginación!The teacher didn't tell her what she had to draw. She did it of her own accord. - What an imagination for one so young!
4. (formal) (on your own initiative; singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
a. of your own accord
No pienso pagarle porque nadie le pidió que lo hiciera, lo hizo usted por su cuenta.I have no intention of paying you because no one asked you to do it. You did it of your own accord.
a. on him (masculine)
Carlos dijo que, como es su cumpleaños, la comida corre por su cuenta.Carlos said that, since it's his birthday, lunch is on him.
b. on her (feminine)
Mamá dice que el cine corre por su cuenta. - Somos muchos, le va a salir carísimo.Mom says the cinema is on her. - There are a lot of us; it's going to cost her a small fortune.
6. (formal) (out of your own pocket; singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
a. on you
Tenga presente que los gastos de devolución correrán por su cuenta.Keep in mind that the return costs will be on you.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Creí que tu hermano trabajaba en una empresa. - No, trabaja por su cuenta.I thought your brother worked for a company. - No, he's self-employed.
Paula hace ya dos años que trabaja por su cuenta.Paula has been self-employed for two years now.
8. (formal) (for yourself; singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¿Trabaja usted por su cuenta o por cuenta ajena?Are you self-employed or an employee?
Usted dejó el trabajo y se estableció por su cuenta, ¿verdad?You left your job and became self-employed, didn't you?
por cuenta propia(
pohr
kwehn
-
tah
proh
-
pyah
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
1. (adjective)
a. self-employed
Es posible que, en el futuro, el número de trabajadores por cuenta propia supere al de trabajadores por cuenta ajena.It's possible that the number of self-employed workers will exceed that of employed workers in the future.
b. freelance
El trabajo por cuenta propia tiene la ventaja de que tú eres tu propio jefe.Freelance work has the advantage that you're your own boss.
2. (adverb)
a. on one's own
Primero trabajó varios años para una multinacional, y luego se estableció por cuenta propia.He first worked several years for a multinational company, and then he set up on his own.
