caballero
“caballero” means “gentleman” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
gentleman, sir
Also: Mr. (informal title)
📝 In Action
Disculpe, caballero, ¿sabe dónde está el baño?
A2Excuse me, sir, do you know where the restroom is?
Esperamos a un caballero que lleva un sombrero rojo.
A2We are waiting for a gentleman who is wearing a red hat.
knight
📝 In Action
El caballero andante de la historia luchó contra un dragón.
B1The wandering knight in the story fought against a dragon.
La armadura del caballero pesaba muchísimo.
B1The knight's armor weighed a lot.
chivalrous man, gentleman
📝 In Action
Él es un verdadero caballero, siempre ofreciendo su asiento.
B2He is a true gentleman, always offering his seat.
Su comportamiento fue el de un caballero, muy respetuoso.
B2His behavior was that of a gentleman, very respectful.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: caballero
Question 1 of 2
Which meaning of 'caballero' is used when asking a stranger for directions in a polite, neutral way?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin word *caballarius*, which simply meant 'man who cares for or rides a horse.' This connection to horses explains why the word first referred to a mounted soldier (a knight) and later evolved to mean a man of high social standing and good manners.
First recorded: Around the 11th-12th century in Old Spanish, replacing the older term 'equite'.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'caballero' and 'señor'?
'Señor' is the basic, standard equivalent of 'Mister' or 'Sir' and is used very broadly. 'Caballero' is generally reserved for slightly more formal situations or is used specifically to emphasize respect or good manners, suggesting a 'true gentleman'.
How do you form the feminine version of 'caballero'?
Unlike many masculine nouns, 'caballero' doesn't just change the ending to '-a'. The corresponding feminine term for a lady, especially in formal or historical contexts, is 'dama'.