campesino
/kampeˈsino/masculine
The Spanish word for peasant is campesino. Wiktionary also lists guajiro and payés.
Meaning: member of the agriculture low class (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| campesino | /kampeˈsino/ | masculine |
| guajiro | /ɡwaˈxiɾo/ | masculine |
| payés | /paˈʝes/ | masculine |
The term refers to a member of the agriculture low class.
Which one should you use?
While campesino is the standard term for a peasant or rural worker, guajiro and payés are regionalisms used in specific Caribbean contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term guajiro is specifically used to refer to a peasant or someone from the countryside in Cuba. The term payés is used in Puerto Rico to refer to a peasant or person from the countryside. In some Latin American countries, particularly in Argentina, paisano is a colloquial term used to refer to a person from the countryside or a peasant.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of campesino is campesina.
How do you pronounce it?
/kampeˈsino/
Did you know?
- The Cuban term guajiro actually originates from a word meaning 'lord' or 'powerful man' in the Lokono and Wayuu languages. Over time, it shifted from describing a person of status to a person from the countryside.
- The term campesino can be used as a proud political identity in Latin American social movements rather than just a description of low social status.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone a campesino can be an insult implying a lack of education, depending on the speaker's tone and social class.
Examples in context
- No soy nada más que un pobre campesino.I am nothing but a poor peasant.This sentence is useful for expressing low social status with campesino.Tatoeba #1334410 by marcelostockle, translation #261476 by CC
- Para el campesino, las frutas son más importantes que las flores.For the peasant, fruits are more important than flowers.This sentence is useful for expressing the perspective of a campesino.Tatoeba #2817827 by marcelostockle, translation #589713 by Scott
- Él se disfrazó de campesino y se infiltró en la ciudad amurallada.He disguised himself as a peasant and infiltrated the walled city.This sentence is useful for describing someone using the disguise of a campesino.Tatoeba #5015589 by albrusgher, translation #424818 by FeuDRenais
- El gobierno implementó políticas agrarias que beneficiaron a los campesinos.The government implemented agrarian policies that benefited the peasants.
- En el mercado, muchos labriegos venden sus productos frescos.In the market, many peasants sell their fresh products.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are talking about his family's history in the countryside.
- MaríaTu abuelo era un campesino, ¿verdad?Your grandfather was a peasant, right?
- DanielSí, era un campesino muy trabajador.Yes, he was a very hardworking peasant.
- MaríaÉl vivía en una granja pequeña.He lived on a small farm.
- DanielAsí es, su vida era sencilla.That's right, his life was simple.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “peasant” translations and entries campesino, guajiro, payés, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries campesino, guajiro, payés, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
