ingeniero civil
/inxenjeɾo θibil/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for civil engineer is ingeniero civil.
The term refers to an engineer specialized in civil engineering.
Meaning: engineer specialised in civil engineering (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the regional variation Ingeniero de Caminos y Canales is used. In Chile and other Latin American countries, you may see the variation Ingeniero Civil en Construcción.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form ingeniero civil changes to the feminine form ingeniera civil when referring to a woman. For the plural, use ingenieros civiles, where both the noun and the adjective are pluralized to refer to a masculine or mixed group.
How do you pronounce it?
/inxenjeɾo θibil/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the title Ingeniero is used as a formal way to address someone directly, similar to how 'Doctor' is used in English.
- The word ingeniero contains a hidden connection to the word 'wit' or 'ingenuity', as it is built from the root ingenio, meaning 'cleverness' or 'artifice'.
- While 'civil engineer' is a standard job title, the suffix '-ero' in ingeniero is a common way in Spanish to turn a profession or a tool into a noun, much like 'panadero' for 'baker'.
Examples in context
- El ingeniero civil diseñó el puente.The civil engineer designed the bridge.
- Mi hermano es ingeniero civil.My brother is a civil engineer.
- Necesitamos contratar a un ingeniero civil.We need to hire a civil engineer.
- El ingeniero civil revisará los planos.The civil engineer will check the blueprints.
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are talking about a new construction project.
- Javier¿Sabes quién es el ingeniero civil del proyecto?Do you know who the civil engineer for the project is?
- ElenaSí, es un colega de mi padre.Yes, he is a colleague of my father.
- JavierEspero que sea un buen ingeniero civil.I hope he is a good civil engineer.
- ElenaNo te preocupes, tiene mucha experiencia.Don't worry, he has a lot of experience.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries civil, ingeniero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
