In the Spanish language, various terms are employed to describe teachers. These terms change from one country to the next as well as the level of education being taught.
El maestro (male teacher) or la maestra (female teacher) is commonly used in elementary school settings. These roles entail providing fundamental education to younger students.
In secondary and higher education, el profesor (male) or la profesora (female) are the terms most commonly used, as in professor for English. They indicate a level of specialization and expertise in a subject area, and the roles often involve a combination of lecturing and research. You would not normally use “maestro” for a college professor.
El docente or la docente (depending on the instructor’s gender) are equivalent to “educator” or “instructor”. These terms are used broadly across educational levels and highlight the role of teaching without specifying the grade level.
The term tutor, typically refers to a person who provides additional, personalized instruction to students outside of a school setting.
“What’s the Spanish word for teacher?” sounds like a simple, straight- forward question. Depending on the context, there are many Spanish words you can use. Here are some examples:
1. maestro / maestra: This is one of the most common words you can use for teacher in Spanish.
2. profesor / profesora: This is another common word that you can use interchangeably with maestro/a.
But if you thought that those were the only words you can use. Check these other Spanish words for teacher and their definitions:
3. docente: I would say that this is a more formal way to call a teacher.
4. educador: Educator, a person who provides instruction or education (a teacher).
5. preceptor / preceptora: A teacher or instructor.
6. instructor / instructora: Instructor, a person who teaches something.
7. leccionista: A teacher that gives private lessons.
8. tutor/tutora: Tutor, a private teacher, typically one who teaches a single pupil or a very small group.
9. institutriz: Woman in charge of the education or instruction of one or more children in the domestic household.
10. institutor / institutora: The RAE dictionary marks this as an obsolete Spanish word for teacher used in Colombia.
In other contexts you can use these last two words from our list:
11. gurú: Spiritual teacher or an influential teacher or popular expert.
12. mentor: Trusted adviser, educator.
Related Educator Vocabulary
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Head of School | Director (male), Directora (female) |
| Assistant Principal | Subdirector (male), Subdirectora (female) |
Common Questions
What is the translation for ‘female teacher’ in Spanish?
In Spanish, a female teacher is referred to as “maestra” or “profesora” with the letter A at the end indicating gender.
How should I address a teacher in Spanish?
A teacher in Spanish can be addressed as “profesor” for a male or “profesora” for a female. A simple trick to avoid managing the gender is just to say “profe” although it’s a bit more informal than using the full word.
What is the Spanish term for ‘my teacher’?
The Spanish term for ‘my teacher’ is “mi profesor” for a male teacher and “mi profesora” for a female teacher.
How do I address a university professor in Spanish in an email?
In an email, you can address a university professor in Spanish as “Estimado Profesor” or “Estimada Profesora” followed by their last name. For example “Estimado Profesor Caballero”. Throughout the email it is best to use the Usted form while addressing them.
Here are more articles for Spanish teachers that may interest you.
