Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| conductor | /konduɡˈtoɾ/ | masculine |
| chofer | /t͡ʃoˈfeɾ/ | feminine, masculine |
| manejador | /manexaˈdoɾ/ | masculine |
| chófer | /ˈt͡ʃofeɾ/ | feminine, masculine, alternative form |
| chafirete | /t͡ʃafiɾete/ (from spelling rules) | derogatory, feminine, masculine |
The term refers to a person who operates a motorized vehicle, such as a car or a bus.
Which one should you use?
While conductor is a standard term for a driver, it is also the word used for an orchestra conductor. The term chofer is often used specifically for professional drivers, such as those who drive taxis or buses. The spelling chófer is an alternative form of chofer.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Chófer is a formal way to refer to a driver, often used in professional or chauffeur-like settings. Conversely, chafirete is a derogatory or highly informal way to refer to a driver, often implying that the person is incompetent.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Colombia and Venezuela, the word piloto is often used to refer to a driver, particularly for vehicles like buses or trucks. In Mexico, Argentina and Spain, the term taxista is commonly used to refer specifically to a taxi driver.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word chofer can be used for both masculine and feminine subjects. Unlike conductor, which changes to conductora for females, chofer remains the same for both genders.
How do you pronounce it?
/konduɡˈtoɾ/
Did you know?
- The word chofer comes from the French chauffeur, which originally meant someone who stoked the fire to heat the boiler of a steam engine.
- The suffix in manejador comes from the verb 'manejar', which is related to the way one handles or manipulates an object.
Examples in context
- Él es mal conductor.He is a bad driver.This sentence is useful for describing a person's skill level as a conductor.Tatoeba #1439145 by marcelostockle, translation #293892 by CK
- Él es chofer de bus.He is a bus driver.This sentence is useful for describing a person's profession as a chofer.Tatoeba #2184997 by marcelostockle, translation #292404 by CK
- Eres un buen conductor.You are a good driver.Tatoeba #5016652 by don_ramon, translation #4770663 by garborg
- El conductor nos llevó al aeropuerto en su taxi.The driver took us to the airport in his taxi.
- Mi amigo es chofer de autobús.My friend is a bus driver.
- Voy a pedirle a mi hermano que sea el conductor designado esta noche.I'm going to ask my brother to be the designated driver tonight.
- Los taxistas en esta ciudad son conocidos por su amabilidad.The taxi drivers in this city are known for their kindness.
- 81 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are talking in a taxi.
- DanielEl conductor es muy amable.The driver is very kind.
- SofíaSí, y conduce con cuidado.Yes, and he drives carefully.
- Daniel¿Conoces a ese conductor?Do you know that driver?
- SofíaNo, pero es un buen conductor.No, but he is a good driver.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “driver” translations and entries conductor, chofer, manejador, chófer, 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 chofer, chófer, conductor, manejador, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
