Acuerdo vs. convenio vs. trato
While 'acuerdo', 'convenio', and 'trato' all translate to the concept of 'agreement' in English, they are nuanced differently in Spanish, with each term used in specific contexts or situations.
Acuerdo
This is used in a broader sense and often refers to any type of agreement, but it's especially used for formal decisions reached through discussion, or consensus among different parties.
Los países llegaron a un acuerdo durante la cumbre mundial del medio ambiente.
(The countries reached an agreement during the global environmental summit.)
Necesitamos llegar a un acuerdo para poder avanzar.
(We need to reach an agreement in order to move forward.)
Convenio
'Convenio' is often used in more formal contexts and typically relates to agreements of a legal nature, specifically contracts or pacts that are legally binding.
La empresa y los empleados firmaron un convenio para garantizar el pago de horas extra.
(The company and the employees signed an agreement to guarantee payment for overtime.)
El gobierno estableció un convenio de cooperación con la organización internacional.
(The government established a cooperation agreement with the international organization.)
Trato
'Trato' tends more towards informal usage and generally refers to verbal agreements. It's commonly used to define personal or business deals with lesser formality.
Hicimos un trato: él lava los platos y yo barro el suelo.
(We made a deal: he washes the dishes and I sweep the floor.)
¿Tenemos un trato?
(Do we have a deal?)
Summary
'Acuerdo', 'convenio', and 'trato' can all be translated as 'agreement' or 'deal' in English, but each is distinguished by its formality level and context. 'Acuerdo' is used broadly for consensus reached among multiple parties. 'Convenio' is used for formal, often legally binding agreements. Lastly, 'trato' refers primarily to more informal verbal agreements or deals.