alcaide
/alˈkaide/masculine
The English word 'warden' is translated into Spanish as alcaide. Wiktionary also lists casillero.
Meaning: a chief administrative officer of a prison (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| alcaide | /alˈkaide/ | masculine |
| casillero | /kasiˈʝeɾo/ | masculine |
In the context of a prison, the term refers to the chief administrative officer.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word alcaide is a masculine noun. Because it is gender-neutral in its spelling, you can refer to a female warden by using the article la, as in la alcaide.
How do you pronounce it?
/alˈkaide/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use casillero to mean a prison warden. This word actually means a locker or a cubbyhole.
Did you know?
- The term alcaide has roots in the Arabic word al-qāʔid, which means 'leader'. This reflects the historical influence of Arabic on the Spanish language during the Middle Ages.
- While alcaide now means a prison warden, it originally designated the governor of a castle or fortress during the Middle Ages.
Examples in context
- El alcaide visitó la prisión ayer.The warden visited the prison yesterday.
- Hablé directamente con el alcaide.I spoke directly with the warden.
- El nuevo alcaide es muy estricto.The new warden is very strict.
Example conversation
Two journalists are discussing a news report about a local prison.
- Javier¿Sabes quién es el alcaide actual?Do you know who the current warden is?
- SofíaNo, no conozco al alcaide.No, I don't know the warden.
- JavierEs un hombre muy serio.He is a very serious man.
- SofíaEso explica los problemas en la cárcel.That explains the problems in the prison.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “warden” translations and entries alcaide, casillero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alcaide, casillero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
