alcalde

ahl-KAHL-deh/alˈkalde/

“alcalde” means “mayor” in Spanish (head of a city or town government).

mayor

Also: burgomaster

NounmA2

SpainMexico/Central America

A person dressed in a simple, official suit, representing a mayor, standing on a small pedestal and proudly holding a large, antique-looking key, symbolizing the city's authority.

📝 In Action

El alcalde anunció que se construirá un nuevo parque.

The mayor announced that a new park will be built.

Necesitamos hablar con el alcalde sobre los problemas de tráfico.

We need to speak with the mayor about the traffic problems.

Todos los ciudadanos votaron por su nuevo alcalde.

All citizens voted for their new mayor.

Word Connections

Synonyms

edil (councilor (often used formally for mayor))
regidor (administrator / council member)

Common Collocations

alcalde de la ciudad – city mayor
elegir al alcalde – to elect the mayor

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "alcalde" in Spanish:

burgomaster→mayor→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: alcalde

Question 1 of 1

If María is the head of the city government, what should you call her?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

alcaldesa(female mayor) — Noun

alcaldía(mayoralty / mayor's office) — Noun

municipal(municipal) — Adjective

🎵 Rhymes▼

baldeasalde

📚 Etymology▼

This word has a fantastic story! It comes directly from Arabic, specifically 'al-qāḍī,' meaning 'the judge' or 'the one who decides.' When Arabic speakers ruled parts of Spain, the person who administered justice and governed the town was called 'alcalde,' a meaning that stuck even after the government changed.

First recorded: 11th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: alcaideArabic (original): الْقَاضِي (al-qāḍī)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'alcalde' and 'alcaldía'?

The 'alcalde' is the person (the mayor), while the 'alcaldía' refers to the position itself (the mayorship) or the physical building where the mayor's office is located (the city hall).