Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| obrero de construcción | /obɾeɾo de konstɾuɡθjon/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /obɾeɾo de konstɾuɡsjon/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| maestro | /maˈestɾo/ /ˈmaestɾo/ |
Latin America, colloquial, masculine |
The term refers to an employee working at a construction site. While obrero de construcción is the standard descriptive term, constructor can also be used to refer to a construction worker in certain contexts.
Which one should you use?
Obrero de construcción is the standard, descriptive term for the profession. In contrast, the term maestro implies a level of skill or seniority in the trade.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Obrero de la construcción and trabajador de la construcción are formal ways to express construction worker. maestro is a colloquial term used in many Latin American countries to refer to a skilled construction worker or foreman.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Maestro is used in many Latin American countries.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a female construction worker, change the masculine obrero to the feminine obrera.
How do you pronounce it?
/obɾeɾo de konstɾuɡθjon/
Did you know?
- While obrero describes a laborer, it shares the same Latin root as the English word 'opera', stemming from the concept of a finished 'work' or 'deed'.
- While maestro is a respectful title for a skilled worker, in some Latin American countries it is used as a friendly, colloquial way to address any tradesperson, even a stranger.
- In Spanish, the word obra can refer to both a construction site and a piece of art, such as a painting or a book.
Examples in context
- ¡Mira a ese obrero de construcción! Está trabajando en ese edificio nuevo.Look at that construction worker! He's working on that new building.
- En la obra, todos los obreros de construcción llevan cascos de seguridad.At the construction site, all the construction workers wear hard hats.
- El obrero de construcción lleva un casco.The construction worker is wearing a helmet.
- Necesitamos un obrero de construcción con experiencia.We need an experienced construction worker.
- Ese obrero de construcción trabaja muy rápido.That construction worker works very fast.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are talking about a new building in their neighborhood.
- SofíaMira cuánta gente trabaja en el edificio.Look at how many people are working on the building.
- AlejandroSí, cada obrero de construcción tiene una tarea.Yes, every construction worker has a task.
- Sofía¿Tú crees que terminarán pronto?Do you think they will finish soon?
- AlejandroNo lo sé, pero trabajan muy rápido.I don't know, but they work very fast.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “construction worker” translations and entries maestro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries construcción, de, maestro, obrero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
