Legal dictionary · Area 4 of 17
Contract Law — EN · ES · IT.
50 terms from Contract Law, each with its Spanish and Italian equivalent and a plain-language definition. Open any term for its own page.
Contract terminology looks deceptively similar across the three languages, but the doctrines behind the words differ. Consideration has no place in Spanish or Italian contract law, which relies on causa; penalty clauses that a U.S. court would strike down are ordinary cláusulas penales and clausole penali; rescisión, resolución and nulidad are distinct remedies that English often collapses into "termination". In certified translations of agreements, these distinctions are preserved exactly, because they determine what each party can actually claim.
Contract / Agreement
ENContract / Agreement — A legally binding agreement between two or more parties.
ESContrato
ITContratto
Acceptance
ENAcceptance — Agreement to the terms of an offer, forming a contract.
ESAceptación
ITAccettazione
Consideration
ENConsideration — The value exchanged that supports a contract.
ESContraprestación / Causa
ITCorrispettivo / Causa
Object of contract
ENObject of contract — The subject matter or purpose of the agreement.
ESObjeto del contrato
ITOggetto del contratto
Party / Contracting party
ENParty / Contracting party — A person who enters into a contract.
ESParte contratante
ITContraente
Clause / Provision
ENClause / Provision — A specific term or provision within a contract.
ESCláusula
ITClausola
Term / Condition
ENTerm / Condition — A stipulation governing the contract's effect or timing.
ESPlazo / Condición
ITTermine / Condizione
Penalty clause
ENPenalty clause — A clause fixing damages payable on breach.
ESCláusula penal
ITClausola penale
Warranty
ENWarranty — An assurance about the quality or performance of something.
ESGarantía
ITGaranzia
Representation
ENRepresentation — A statement of fact made to induce a contract.
ESDeclaración / Manifestación
ITDichiarazione / Attestazione
Breach of contract
ENBreach of contract — Failure to perform a contractual obligation.
ESIncumplimiento contractual
ITInadempimento contrattuale
Termination
ENTermination — Bringing a contract to an end.
ESResolución / Rescisión
ITRisoluzione / Recesso
Withdrawal / Rescission right
ENWithdrawal / Rescission right — A party's right to withdraw from a contract.
ESDesistimiento / Revocación
ITRecesso / Diritto di ripensamento
Amendment
ENAmendment — A change to the terms of an existing contract.
ESModificación / Addenda
ITModifica / Addendum
Performance
ENPerformance — Carrying out the obligations under a contract.
ESEjecución del contrato
ITEsecuzione del contratto
Deposit / Earnest money
ENDeposit / Earnest money — A sum paid to confirm a contract or secure performance.
ESSeña / Arras
ITCaparra
Sale
ENSale — A contract transferring ownership for a price.
ESCompraventa
ITCompravendita / Vendita
Lease / Rental
ENLease / Rental — A contract granting use of property for rent.
ESLocación / Arrendamiento / Alquiler
ITLocazione / Affitto
Loan (for use)
ENLoan (for use) — A free loan of a thing to be returned in kind.
ESComodato
ITComodato
Loan (of money)
ENLoan (of money) — A loan of money or fungible goods to be repaid.
ESMutuo / Préstamo
ITMutuo
Mandate / Agency
ENMandate / Agency — A contract by which one acts on another's behalf.
ESMandato
ITMandato
Deposit (bailment)
ENDeposit (bailment) — Entrusting goods to another for safekeeping.
ESDepósito
ITDeposito
Donation / Gift
ENDonation / Gift — A gratuitous transfer of property to another.
ESDonación
ITDonazione
Barter / Exchange
ENBarter / Exchange — An exchange of one thing for another without money.
ESPermuta
ITPermuta
Service contract
ENService contract — An agreement to perform work or services.
ESContrato de servicios / locación de obra
ITContratto d'opera / di servizi
Franchise
ENFranchise — A licence to operate a business under another's brand.
ESFranquicia
ITFranchising / Affiliazione commerciale
Standard form contract
ENStandard form contract — A pre-drafted contract offered on a take-it-or-leave-it basis.
ESContrato de adhesión
ITContratto per adesione
Unfair term
ENUnfair term — A term creating significant imbalance against a party.
ESCláusula abusiva
ITClausola vessatoria / abusiva
Confidentiality agreement (NDA)
ENConfidentiality agreement (NDA) — A contract protecting shared confidential information.
ESAcuerdo de confidencialidad
ITAccordo di riservatezza
Letter of intent
ENLetter of intent — A document outlining a preliminary agreement to negotiate.
ESCarta de intención
ITLettera d'intenti
Pre-contract / Preliminary contract
ENPre-contract / Preliminary contract — A binding agreement to enter into a future contract.
ESBoleto / Precontrato
ITContratto preliminare
Assignment of contract
ENAssignment of contract — Transfer of contractual rights and duties to a third party.
ESCesión del contrato
ITCessione del contratto
Force majeure clause
ENForce majeure clause — A clause excusing performance due to extraordinary events.
ESCláusula de fuerza mayor
ITClausola di forza maggiore
Arbitration clause
ENArbitration clause — A clause requiring disputes to be settled by arbitration.
ESCláusula arbitral / compromisoria
ITClausola compromissoria
Counter-offer
ENCounter-offer — A reply that modifies the terms of an offer.
ESContraoferta
ITControproposta
Privity of contract
ENPrivity of contract — The principle that a contract binds only its parties.
ESEfecto relativo del contrato
ITRelatività del contratto
Specific performance
ENSpecific performance — A court order to perform the contract as agreed.
ESCumplimiento específico / forzoso
ITEsecuzione in forma specifica
Liquidated damages
ENLiquidated damages — Damages fixed in advance by the contract.
ESDaños liquidados / cláusula penal
ITPenale / Danni liquidati
Frustration of contract
ENFrustration of contract — Discharge of a contract by an unforeseen event.
ESFrustración del contrato / fin del contrato
ITImpossibilità sopravvenuta
Condition precedent
ENCondition precedent — An event that must occur before an obligation arises.
ESCondición suspensiva
ITCondizione sospensiva
Condition subsequent
ENCondition subsequent — An event that ends an existing obligation.
ESCondición resolutoria
ITCondizione risolutiva
Severability clause
ENSeverability clause — A clause keeping a contract valid if one part fails.
ESCláusula de divisibilidad / salvaguarda
ITClausola di salvaguardia
Governing law clause
ENGoverning law clause — A clause selecting the law that governs the contract.
ESCláusula de ley aplicable
ITClausola di legge applicabile
Entire agreement clause
ENEntire agreement clause — A clause stating the contract is the whole agreement.
ESCláusula de integridad
ITClausola di completezza
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This page is for general orientation only. It is not legal advice and does not substitute for advice from licensed counsel in the relevant jurisdiction. Terminology varies between countries and between civil-law and common-law systems; the equivalents shown here are the most common in cross-border practice.
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