mago
/ˈmaɡo/masculine
The English word wizard can be translated into Spanish as mago. Wiktionary also lists brujo and hechicero.
Meaning: person skilled with magic (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mago | /ˈmaɡo/ | masculine |
| brujo | /ˈbɾuxo/ | masculine |
| hechicero | /et͡ʃiˈθeɾo/ /et͡ʃiˈseɾo/ |
masculine |
| nigromante | /niɡɾoˈmante/ | masculine |
In Spanish, mago is the standard term used for stage magicians or illusionists who perform tricks for entertainment. It is also a neutral term for a person skilled with magic.
Which one should you use?
While mago is a neutral term, brujo often carries a darker, more sinister or more folk-magic connotation similar to 'warlock' or 'witch'. Hechicero is often used to describe someone who uses spells or enchantments, frequently implying a more mystical or ritualistic practice than mago.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine forms have feminine counterparts: maga is the feminine form of mago, bruja is the feminine form of brujo and hechicera is the feminine form of hechicero.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmaɡo/
Did you know?
- The term mago is borrowed from the Ancient Greek word mágos, which originally referred to a member of a specific priestly caste of the Medes in ancient Persia.
- In some Latin American folk traditions, a brujo is not just a fictional character but a community figure sought out to cure illnesses or find lost objects.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a person who is exceptionally clever or a 'trickster' might be jokingly called a mago, even if no real magic is involved.
Examples in context
- El mago agitó su varita mágica y despareció sin dejar rastro.The wizard waved his magic wand and disappeared into thin air.This sentence is useful for seeing how a mago uses a wand.Tatoeba #1661665 by marcelostockle, translation #526920 by darinmex
- Me temo que necesitarás más que un sombrero cónico para ser un verdadero hechicero.I'm afraid you'll need more than a conical hat to be a real wizard.This sentence shows the use of hechicero in the context of needing more than just a hat to be a real wizard.Tatoeba #1346805 by marcelostockle, translation #712824 by papabear
- Cuál es la diferencia entre un mago y un hechicero?What's the difference between a wizard and a sorcerer?This sentence highlights the comparison between mago and hechicero.Tatoeba #11616574 by shekitten, translation #8736663 by shekitten
- Me gustaría conocer al mago que mencionaste. ¿Podrías presentármelo?I would like to meet the wizard you mentioned. Could you introduce me to him?
- El hechicero que protagoniza la novela es un personaje fascinante.The wizard who is the protagonist of the novel is a fascinating character.
- Hoy conocí a un brujo muy interesante que sabe hacer trucos sorprendentes.Today, I met a very interesting wizard who knows how to perform astonishing tricks.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are talking about a movie they just watched.
- SofíaEl mago de esa película es muy poderoso.The wizard in that movie is very powerful.
- MateoSí, Mateo cree que sus trucos son increíbles.Yes, Mateo thinks his tricks are incredible.
- SofíaMe pregunto si un mago real existe.I wonder if a real wizard exists.
- MateoProbablemente no, Sofía, es solo fantasía.Probably not, Sofia, it is just fantasy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wizard” translations and entries mago, brujo, hechicero, nigromante, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries brujo, hechicero, mago, nigromante, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
