fontanero
/fontaˈneɾo/Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Spain, masculine
The Spanish word for plumber is fontanero. Wiktionary also lists gásfiter and gasfitero.
Meaning: one who fits, etc, pipes for water, gas or drainage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| fontanero | /fontaˈneɾo/ | Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Spain, masculine |
| gásfiter | /ɡasfiteɾ/ (from spelling rules) | Chile, masculine |
| gasfitero | /ɡasfiˈteɾo/ | Ecuador, Peru, masculine |
| plomero | /ploˈmeɾo/ | Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Venezuela, masculine |
| tubero | /tuˈbeɾo/ | Philippines, masculine |
A plumber is one who fits, etc, pipes for water, gas or drainage.
What does it mean word for word?
The word plomero is derived from plomo, meaning lead, referring to the material historically used for pipes.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word fontanero is used in Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. In Chile, you should use gásfiter. In Ecuador and Peru, gasfitero is used. In Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela, the word plomero is used. In the Philippines, the term tubero is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a female plumber, use the feminine forms fontanera for fontanero or plomera for plomero.
How do you pronounce it?
/fontaˈneɾo/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the word plomo is used not just for the metal 'lead' but also as slang for 'bullets'.
- The word gásfiter used in Chile and gasfitero in Ecuador and Peru are direct linguistic guests from the English term 'gasfitter'.
- In historical contexts, a fontanero was not just a pipe-fixer but someone responsible for the public fountains that provided city water.
Examples in context
- Tom es un plomero.Tom is a plumber.This sentence is useful for identifying someone's profession using plomero.Tatoeba #1494603 by marcelostockle, translation #1494223 by Spamster
- Mario es un plomero.Mario is a plumber.Tatoeba #4579040 by DarkHollow, translation #4574760 by Hybrid
- El fontanero usó muchas herramientas diferentes para arreglar nuestro fregadero.The plumber used many different tools to fix our sink.This sentence is useful for describing the tools used by a fontanero.Tatoeba #1771542 by Shishir, translation #1556640 by Scott
- ¿Podría llamar a un fontanero, por favor?Could you please call a plumber?
- Necesito contratar a un plomero para reparar el grifo.I need to hire a plumber to fix the faucet.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are in their kitchen looking at a leak.
- Mateo¿Necesitas llamar a un fontanero?Do you need to call a plumber?
- SofíaSí, el fontanero puede arreglar la fuga.Yes, the plumber can fix the leak.
- MateoEspero que el fontanero llegue pronto.I hope the plumber arrives soon.
- SofíaYa llamé al fontanero de la zona.I already called the local plumber.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “plumber” translations and entries fontanero, gasfitero, plomero, tubero, 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 fontanero, gasfitero, plomero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
