zelador
/ze.laˈdoʁ/masculine
The Portuguese word for janitor is zelador.
zelador implies a caretaker or someone who maintains a building, it is distinct from faxineiro, which specifically refers to a cleaner or janitor focused on cleaning tasks.
Meaning: caretaker (noun)
Which one should you use?
zelador is used for a caretaker who maintains a building, whereas faxineiro refers specifically to a person whose job is cleaning.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, zelador(a) is the most commonly used term for 'janitor' in formal contexts. In Brazil, faxineiro(a) is largely used informally for 'janitor'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular form is zelador. The feminine form is zeladora. For a group of men or a mixed-gender group, use the masculine plural zeladores. For a group of women, use the feminine plural zeladoras.
How do you pronounce it?
/ze.laˈdoʁ/. The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd of 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word zelo used in zelador is a cognate of the English word 'zeal', though in Portuguese it more commonly refers to 'care' or 'attention' in a practical sense.
- In many Portuguese-speaking cultures, a zelador is often seen as a key figure of authority in an apartment building, acting as a bridge between the residents and the building management.
- In some Portuguese-speaking regions, a zelador might also be called a caseiro if they live on the property they maintain, especially in rural estates.
Examples in context
- Tom é o zelador da noite.Tom is the night janitor.This sentence identifies a person as a night janitor.Tatoeba #5099080 by Ricardo14, translation #2644886 by CK
- Não me pergunte. Sou apenas o zelador.Don't ask me. I'm just the janitor.This sentence is used to state that one is just the janitor.Tatoeba #4812848 by gjuliocesar, translation #1860522 by CK
- O zelador do prédio está sempre atento às necessidades dos inquilinos.The janitor of the building is always attentive to the tenants' needs.
- A empresa contratou um novo encarregado de limpeza para manter o escritório impecável.The company hired a new janitor to keep the office spotless.
- O faxineiro do shopping faz um trabalho incrível mantendo tudo limpo.The janitor at the mall does an amazing job keeping everything clean.
- O zeladorzinho sempre está disposto a ajudar com qualquer problema.The little janitor is always willing to help with any issues.
- O zelador chegou para limpar o corredor.The janitor arrived to clean the hallway.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rodrigo and Camila are in the hallway of their apartment building.
- RodrigoVocê viu o zelador hoje, Camila?Have you seen the janitor today, Camila?
- CamilaSim, ele está consertando a luz.Yes, he is fixing the light.
- RodrigoPreciso entregar uma chave para o zelador.I need to give a key to the janitor.
- CamilaEle está logo ali no corredor.He is right there in the hallway.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “janitor” translations and entries zelador, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
