English terms ending in the suffixes “–OR” and “–EE” are sometimes a source of confusion for Spanish speakers. “-OR” (and sometimes “-ER”) is the active-agent noun suffix (lessor—one who leases property; indorser—one who indorses a negotiable instrument). As Bryan Garner* has noted the “–EE” suffix originally had an inherently passive sense as the “one who is acted upon” (acquitee—one who is acquitted; arrestee—one who is arrested). Another common usage of the “-EE” suffix has a dative sense, acting as the passive agent noun for an indirect object (grantee—one to whom property is granted; indorsee—one to whom a negotiable instrument is indorsed; lessee—one to whom property is leased). But other uses have developed in which words ending in “–EE” do not have a passive sense at all (asylee—one who seeks asylum; escapee—one who escapes).

In Spanish “–OR” words often (but not always) end in “–OR,” “–ANTE,” “–ENTE,” or “-ISTA,” while “–EE” words often end in “-ADO,” “–ARIO” or “–ORIO.” There are no sure-fire rules, and for Spanish-speaking lawyers who use English and translators of legal texts it may be useful to simply memorize the corresponding Spanish “–OR” and “–EE” pairs.

I am sharing below the English pairs that I believe are most commonly used in legal contexts, along with a possible Spanish translation for each. Most are in common usage, some less so. Some are “-OR”/”-EE” pairs; others don’t have both forms.

•  abortionist—abortista; abortee—abortada
• adopter—adoptante; adoptee—adoptado
• appellant—recurrente/apelante; appellee—recurrido/apelado
• appointee—nombrado; nominado
• acquitee—absuelto (proceso penal)
• assignor—cedente; assignee—cesionario
• attendee—asistente (a una reunion, etc.)
• breacher—parte incumplidora; breachee—parte cumplidora (breach of contract)
• briber—cohechador activo/sujeto activo del cohecho; bribee—cohechador pasivo/sujeto pasivo del cohecho
• designator—persona que designa; designee—designado
• devisor—testador que lega bienes inmuebles; devisee—legatario de bienes inmuebles
• donor—donante; donee—donatario
• electee—elegido
• employer—empleador; employee—empleado
• escapee—fugado
• evacuee—evacuado
• evictee—desahuciado
• franchisor—franquiciador; franchisee—franquiciado
• garnishee—pagador de sueldo o pensión embargados
• indictee—acusado (by indictment)
• indorser—endosante; indorsee—indosatario**
• internee—internado
• kidnapee—secuestrado
• legatee—legatario
• lessor—arrendador; lessee—arrendatario
• licensor—licenciante; licensee—licenciatario
• mortgagor—deudor hipotecario; mortgagee—acreedor hipotecario
• murderer—asesino; murderee—asesinado
• nominee—nominado
• obligor—deudor; obligee—acreedor
• offeror—oferente; offeree—destinatario de la oferta
• parolee—liberado condicional
• patentor—autoridad que concede patentes; patentee—titular de la patente
• payor—pagador; payee—cobrador; beneficiario del pago/de la prestación
• pledgor—deudor pignorante; pledgee—acreedor pignoraticio
• promisor—promitente; promisee—promisario
• subrogor—acreedor originario; subrogee—subrogado
• transferor—transmitente; transferee—adquirente
• vendor—vendedor; vendee—comprador
• vestee—beneficiario de derechos consolidados (vested rights)

*Bryan Garner. “Garner’s Dictionary of Legal Usage.” Oxford University Press (3^rd ed.), 2011, p. 206-307.

**In British English “indorser” and “indorsee” are spelled “endorser” and “endorsee.”