Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| guardia de seguridad | /ˌɡwaɾdja de seɡuɾiˈdad/ | feminine, masculine |
| wáchiman | Guatemala, feminine, masculine, alternative form | |
| wachiman | Latin America, feminine, masculine, alternative form | |
| wachimán | /w̝at͡ʃiˈman/ /ɡwat͡ʃiˈman/ |
Latin America, feminine, masculine, alternative form |
| guachimán | /ɡwat͡ʃiˈman/ (standard) /w̝at͡ʃiˈman/ (colloquial) |
Latin America, feminine, masculine |
| guachi | /ɡwat͡ʃi/ (from spelling rules) | Latin America, feminine, masculine, alternative form |
| guáchiman | /ɡwat͡ʃiman/ (from spelling rules) | Puerto Rico, feminine, masculine, alternative form |
| guachimango | /ɡwat͡ʃimanɡo/ (from spelling rules) | El Salvador, feminine, masculine, alternative form |
| watchman | feminine, masculine, alternative form | |
| huachimán | /w̝at͡ʃiˈman/ /ɡwat͡ʃiˈman/ |
Latin America, feminine, masculine, alternative form |
The phrase refers to a person employed to provide security. While guardia de seguridad is the standard term, many parts of Latin America use the colloquial and slangy term guachimán or its various phonetic adaptations, which derive from the English word 'watchman'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase guardia de seguridad is composed of guardia (guard) and de seguridad (of security).
Which one should you use?
Guardia de seguridad is the standard, formal term. In contrast, guachimán and its many variations are informal or slangy ways to refer to a security guard.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The colloquial term guachimán is used throughout Latin America, appearing in various spellings such as wachiman, wachimán, huachimán and guachi. In Guatemala, you may see the spelling wáchiman. In Puerto Rico, the spelling guáchiman is used. In El Salvador, the variant guachimango is found. The English spelling watchman is also sometimes used as a written adaptation.
How does it change in a sentence?
All the listed forms for 'security guard' are nouns that can be either masculine or feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌɡwaɾdja de seɡuɾiˈdad/
Did you know?
- While guachimán is a phonetic adaptation of 'watchman', it is often used in Latin America to imply a low-status or underpaid position rather than just a job title.
- The word guardia descends from the Gothic word wardja, making it a distant relative of the English word 'ward'.
- The variant guachimango in El Salvador adds a playful or rhythmic suffix to the English loanword, a common linguistic habit in Central American slang.
Examples in context
- Yanni es guardia de seguridad.Yanni is a security guard.This example shows how to identify someone's profession using guardia de seguridad.Tatoeba #9996453 by manufrutos, translation #9995574 by Amastan
- Tom se disfrazó de guardia de seguridad.Tom disguised himself as a security guard.This example uses guardia de seguridad to describe someone wearing a disguise.Tatoeba #5015522 by albrusgher, translation #3923581 by CK
- Él trabaja como guardia de seguridad en un almacén.He is working as a security guard at a warehouse.This example describes a person's place of work using guardia de seguridad.Tatoeba #4934264 by albrusgher, translation #300818 by CM
- Enrique es un guardia de seguridad extremadamente responsable.Enrique is an extremely responsible security guard.
- La empresa contrató a varios vigilantes para proteger la propiedad.The company hired several security guards to protect the property.
- El guardia del museo nos explicó las normas de seguridad.The museum guard explained the safety rules to us.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo is talking to Elena about his new job.
- Elena¿En qué trabajas ahora, Mateo?What are you working as now, Mateo?
- MateoSoy guardia de seguridad en un banco.I am a security guard at a bank.
- ElenaEse es un trabajo muy importante.That is a very important job.
- MateoSí, la responsabilidad es grande.Yes, the responsibility is great.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “security guard” translations and entries guardia de seguridad, wáchiman, wachiman, wachimán, guachimán, guachi, guáchiman, guachimango, watchman, huachimán, 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 de, guardia, seguridad, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
