Essential Legal English Vocabulary and Contract Terms

Posted on Apr 13, 2026 in English and Catalan Studies

Key Legal Connectors

  • Notwithstanding: Despite or in spite of something. (A pesar de / No obstante). Use: To indicate that a rule applies even if there is something against it.
  • Inasmuch as: Because or since; used to introduce a reason. (Puesto que / Visto que / En la medida en que). Use: A formal way to provide a reason.

Collocations

  • Concerning: Relating to (Relativo a / referente a).
  • Come into force: To become effective (law) (Entrar en vigor).
  • Amount of opposition: Level of opposition (Cantidad de oposición).

Legal Vocabulary

  • Term: A word meaning duration. (Término / duración).
  • Give notice: To formally warn that something will happen (e.g., contract ending). (Dar aviso formal).
  • Expiration: Formal word for ending. (Vencimiento).
  • Procurement: The act of obtaining something. (Adquisición / obtención).
  • Aggregate: Total accumulated amount. (Total acumulado).
  • Undertake: To formally promise to do something. (Comprometerse).
  • Incur: To suffer or bring upon oneself (usually something negative). (Incurrir en).

Archaic Terms in Contracts

  • Hereby: By means of this document. (Por medio del presente).
  • Herein: In this document. (En el presente documento).
  • Hereinafter: From this point forward in the document. (En lo sucesivo).
  • Heretofore: Before now / previously. (Previamente).
  • Hereunder: Under this agreement. (Bajo este documento).

Structure of a Commercial Contract

  • Names of the parties: Identification of parties (Nombre de las partes).
  • Recitals: Background statements (Declaraciones).
  • Definitions: Meaning of key terms (Definiciones).
  • Conditions: Requirements before contract is effective (Condiciones previas).
  • Agreements: Main obligations (Acuerdos).
  • Warranties: Guarantees / compensation obligations (Garantías).
  • Boilerplate clauses: Standard clauses (Cláusulas estándar).
  • Schedules: Detailed annexes (Anexos).
  • Signatures: Formal acceptance of the contract (Firmas).
  • Appendices: Supplemental documents of the contract (Documentos suplementarios adjuntos al contrato).

Employment Law Language

  • Employer: Person who hires (Empleador).
  • Employee: Worker (Empleado).
  • Invoices: Bills (Facturas).
  • Salary: Fixed payment (Salario).
  • Suppliers: Providers (Proveedores).
  • Wages: Payment for work (Sueldo).
  • Staff: Workers (Personal).
  • Payroll: List of employees and payments (Nómina).
  • Full-time: Full schedule (Tiempo completo).
  • Part-time: Reduced hours (Medio tiempo).
  • Manager: Supervisor (Gerente).
  • Remuneration: Compensation (Remuneración).

Employment Contract Terms

  • Clause: Section of a contract (Cláusula).
  • Provision: A specific term or condition (Disposición).

Clause Headings

  • Term of the contract: Duración
  • Job title: Puesto
  • Working hours: Horario
  • Remuneration: Salario
  • Holidays: Vacaciones
  • Sick pay: Incapacidad
  • Grievance procedures: Quejas
  • Disciplinary procedures: Sanciones
  • Pension: Pensión
  • Confidentiality: Confidencialidad
  • Non-competition: No competencia
  • Termination: Terminación

How Employment Contracts End

  • Resignation: Employee leaves voluntarily (Renuncia).
  • Notice period: Time before leaving (Periodo de aviso).
  • Retirement: Stops working due to age (Jubilación).
  • Redundancy: Job no longer needed (Recorte de personal).
  • Dismissal: Employee is fired (Despido).
  • Fixed-term contract ends: Contract expires (Fin de contrato temporal).

Modern Letter Writing

Salutations

  • Law firm, company, or institution: Dear Sir or Madam / Dear Sirs (Estimado señor o señora / Estimados señores).
  • Man, name unknown: Dear Sir.
  • Woman, name unknown: Dear Madam.
  • Person, name and sex unknown: Dear Sir or Madam.
  • Man, name known: Dear Mr Thorley.
  • Woman, name known, married: Dear Mrs Ratcliffe.
  • Woman, name known, single: Dear Miss Singh.
  • Woman, name known, marital status unknown: Dear Ms Printo.
  • Couple, name unknown: Dear Sir and Madam.
  • Married couple, names known: Dear Mr and Mrs Clarkson.
  • Unmarried couple, names known: Dear Mr Rice and Ms Mathew.
  • Two men, names unknown: Dear Sirs.
  • Two women, names unknown: Dear Mesdames.
  • Person, name and title known: Dear Dr Greg.

Subject Line

The subject line acts as a heading for a letter. Its purpose is to ensure the recipient immediately understands the content of the correspondence.