The word suplente is a noun.
/suˈplente/
In the Spanish language, suplente refers to a person who acts as a substitute or replacement for someone else, especially in a formal context such as education, law, or sports, where individuals may be appointed to take over duties temporarily. The word is not limited to specific contexts and can be used generally to indicate a person who fills in for another.
The term suplente is commonly used in both oral and written contexts, particularly in legal, educational, and administrative jargon.
The substitute teacher arrived early to class.
El concejo eligió a un suplente para el puesto vacante.
The council appointed a substitute for the vacant position.
Siempre es bueno tener un suplente preparado en caso de que falte alguien.
While suplente does not form part of many fixed idiomatic expressions, it can still be used in various contexts to convey the idea of substitution.
It’s better to have a substitute and not need it.
El suplente nunca fue tan popular como el original.
The substitute was never as popular as the original.
Nadie quiere ser el suplente en este equipo.
No one wants to be the substitute on this team.
Siempre hay un suplente esperando su oportunidad.
There’s always a substitute waiting for their chance.
Contar con un suplente puede hacer la diferencia en la competencia.
The term suplente derives from the Latin word “supplens, supplantis,” which means "supplying" or "filling up." It is related to the verb "suplir," which means to substitute or to supply.
In summary, the term suplente plays an important role in scenarios requiring temporary replacements across various domains and has a straightforward application both in daily communication and more formal contexts.