Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| poeta | /poˈeta/ | feminine, masculine |
| poetisa | /poeˈtisa/ | feminine |
| lirófono | /liɾofono/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
A poet is a person who writes poems. You can use the term poeta to describe someone in this profession. Other ways to describe such a person include the phrase escritor de poesía (poetry writer) or the more formal escritor lírico (lyrical writer).
Which one should you use?
While poeta is a gender-neutral option that can be used for any poet, poetisa is a specific feminine form used to refer to a female poet, similar to the English word 'poetess'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, a male oral improvisational poet is referred to as a payador, while a female oral improvisational poet is called a payadora.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form poeta can be used for both men and women, although it is grammatically masculine in its default state. The form lirófono is a masculine term for a poet.
How do you pronounce it?
/poˈeta/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking contexts, calling someone a poeta is a common way to describe a person who is overly romantic or a smooth talker, even if they have never written a poem.
- While poetisa is grammatically correct, many modern Spanish-speaking women prefer to be called poeta to avoid the slightly dated or diminutive nuance of the feminine suffix.
- The word poeta shares a common ancestor with the English word 'create' through the Proto-Indo-European root 'to make' or 'to do'.
Examples in context
- Allen es un poeta.Allen is a poet.This sentence uses poeta to identify Allen.Tatoeba #2726 by Shishir, translation #1530 by CN
- Allan es un poeta.Allan is a poet.This sentence uses poeta to identify Allan.Tatoeba #1922159 by Shishir, translation #1420356 by etoile
- Él es un poeta nato.He is a born poet.This sentence uses poeta to describe someone as a born poet.Tatoeba #818647 by Shishir, translation #300663 by CM
- 81 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are talking about a literary festival.
- Elena¿Conoces a la poeta que viene mañana?Do you know the poet who is coming tomorrow?
- DanielSí, es una poeta increíble.Yes, she is an incredible poet.
- ElenaMe gustaría conocerla.I would like to meet her.
- DanielSeguro que te encantará su arte.I'm sure you will love her art.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “poet” translations and entries poeta, poetisa, 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 poeta, poetisa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
