maestro
/maˈestɾo/
The English phrase 'master' can be translated into Spanish as maestro.
As a noun, maestro refers to someone who has reached a high degree of skill or is a master of a specific craft or subject. It is also the most common general term for a 'teacher', particularly for those teaching in primary or secondary schools.
Meaning: to learn to a high degree (verb)
Which one should you use?
While maestro can denote a master of a craft, it is frequently used simply to mean 'teacher'. For academic achievements, the noun maestría is used to refer specifically to a 'master's degree'. In other specific contexts, the word 'captain' of a merchant ship is translated as capitán and a courtesy title for a boy is rendered as joven amo or señorito.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun maestro is gender-inflected. Use the form maestra to refer to a female master or teacher.
How do you pronounce it?
/maˈestɾo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use maestro as a verb to mean 'to master a subject'. In Spanish, maestro is a noun. If you want to express the action of mastering something, use verbs such as dominar or perfeccionar instead.
Did you know?
- While maestro is the standard term for a teacher, in some Spanish-speaking cultures it is used as a respectful shorthand for any skilled tradesperson, such as a carpenter or a mechanic.
- The word máster exists in Spanish but is a direct loanword from English used specifically for academic degrees, whereas maestro is the native evolution of the Latin term.
- Calling a young boy señorito translates to 'master' in an archaic English sense, but in modern Spanish it often carries a connotation of being spoiled or pampered.
Examples in context
- Él es un maestro talentoso.He is a master of ability.This sentence is useful for describing someone with talent using maestro.Tatoeba #7790508 by Eremon, translation #4125773 by allasobirova
- El traidor envenenó al maestro.The traitor poisoned the master.This sentence shows maestro being used to refer to a person who was poisoned.Tatoeba #1165976 by marcelostockle, translation #1165977 by marcelostockle
- Es un maestro de la provocación.He's a master of provocation.This sentence demonstrates using maestro to describe a master of a specific area like provocation.Tatoeba #890028 by Shishir, translation #566527 by FeuDRenais
- ¡Has ganado el premio de cocina! Eres un maestro en la cocina italiana.You've won the cooking competition! You're a master in Italian cuisine.
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are talking about their piano lessons.
- MateoQuiero ser maestro del piano algún día.I want to master the piano one day.
- ElenaRequiere mucha práctica y paciencia, Mateo.It requires a lot of practice and patience, Mateo.
- Mateo¿Crees que yo pueda lograrlo?Do you think I can achieve it?
- ElenaSí, si estudias duro serás maestro.Yes, if you study hard you will master it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry maestro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
