primer ministro
/pɾiˌmeɾ miˈnistɾo/masculine
The English phrase 'prime minister' is translated into Spanish as primer ministro. Wiktionary also lists presidente del Gobierno.
Meaning: chief member of the cabinet and head of the government (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| primer ministro | /pɾiˌmeɾ miˈnistɾo/ | masculine |
| presidente del Gobierno | /pɾesidente del ɡobjeɾno/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
The term refers to the chief member of the cabinet and head of the government.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase primer ministro literally translates to 'first minister'.
Which one should you use?
primer ministro is a generic term for a prime minister, whereas presidente del Gobierno is the specific official title used in Spain.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Presidente del Gobierno is the term used in Spain. Jefe de Gobierno is used in several Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in Latin America.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of the phrase is primera ministra.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɾiˌmeɾ miˈnistɾo/
Did you know?
- While primer ministro is used generically, Spanish speakers often refer to the office of the prime minister as la Moncloa, after the name of the official residence in Madrid.
- In some Latin American countries, the term Jefe de Gobierno specifically refers to the mayor of a city, such as the mayor of Mexico City, rather than a national leader.
- The word ministro comes from the Latin ministrum, which originally referred to a servant or attendant rather than a high-ranking official.
Examples in context
- El Primer Ministro dimitió.The Prime Minister has resigned.This sentence is useful for showing the use of primer ministro in a formal context.Tatoeba #2856506 by marcelostockle, translation #274268 by CK
- El primer ministro dimitió ayer.The Prime Minister resigned yesterday.Tatoeba #1975651 by marilia, translation #274267 by nurendra
- El primer ministro firmó la carta.The prime minister signed the charter.Tatoeba #1926220 by marcelostockle, translation #8962131 by Nylez
- El Primer Ministro anunció nuevas políticas económicas.The Prime Minister announced new economic policies.
- El Jefe de Gobierno se reunirá con líderes extranjeros.The Prime Minister will meet with foreign leaders.
- El Presidente del Gobierno presentó nuevas propuestas legislativas.The Prime Minister presented new legislative proposals.
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are discussing the news in a cafe.
- María¿Viste las noticias sobre el primer ministro?Did you see the news about the prime minister?
- AlejandroSí, el primer ministro dará un discurso hoy.Yes, the prime minister will give a speech today.
- MaríaEspero que el primer ministro sea honesto.I hope the prime minister is honest.
- AlejandroEso sería lo mejor para el país.That would be best for the country.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “prime minister” translations and entries primer ministro, 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 del, gobierno, ministro, presidente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
