tutor
/tuˈtoɾ/
The English phrase "homeroom teacher" is translated into Spanish as tutor.
A tutor is the teacher responsible for a specific group of students and manages their administrative needs. In many Spanish-speaking school systems, the term tutor de grupo is used to specify the teacher responsible for a particular class or group of students. While tutor refers to the homeroom teacher in an academic administrative sense, be aware that depending on the context, it can also be used to mean a private academic tutor (profesor particular).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, a homeroom teacher is often called a Maestro/a de Grupo. In Spain, it is common to address a homeroom teacher as Profesor/a Tutor/a. Additionally, Tutor/a can be used to address a homeroom teacher in certain regions.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes based on the gender of the teacher: use tutora to indicate a female homeroom teacher.
How do you pronounce it?
/tuˈtoɾ/
Did you know?
- The word tutor comes from the Latin tutorem, which originally referred to a protector or guardian.
- Because tutor also means 'legal guardian', a student telling a friend that their tutor is coming to school could be interpreted as their legal representative arriving rather than their teacher.
- In Spain, the tutor often acts as the primary legal and emotional liaison between the school and the parents, a role that carries significantly more social weight than a typical English 'homeroom teacher'.
Examples in context
- El tutor de mi clase es muy amable.My homeroom teacher is very kind.
- Necesito hablar con el tutor para entregar el documento.I need to speak with the homeroom teacher to hand in the document.
- ¿Sabes quién es el tutor de segundo año?Do you know who the second-year homeroom teacher is?
Example conversation
Mateo and María are talking at school.
- MateoMaría, ¿sabes dónde está el tutor?María, do you know where the homeroom teacher is?
- MaríaCreo que está en la oficina, Mateo.I think he is in the office, Mateo.
- MateoNecesito entregarle este documento ahora.I need to give him this document now.
- MaríaVe rápido antes de que se vaya.Go quickly before he leaves.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tutor, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tutor, CC BY-SA 4.0.
