caballeros
/ka-ba-YE-ros/
gentlemen
The word caballeros is often used formally to address or refer to a group of gentlemen.
caballeros(Noun)
gentlemen
?Addressing a group of men
men
?General reference
,sirs
?Formal address
📝 In Action
Buenas tardes, caballeros. ¿En qué puedo ayudarles?
A2Good afternoon, gentlemen. How can I help you?
Los caballeros, por favor, esperen en la sala.
B1The gentlemen, please wait in the living room.
💡 Grammar Points
Plural of 'Caballero'
'Caballeros' is simply the plural form of 'caballero' (gentleman). To make it plural, you just add an '-s' to the end.
⭐ Usage Tips
Polite and Formal
Use 'caballeros' when you want to be respectful, like in a business meeting or when addressing an audience. It's the equivalent of 'gentlemen'.
In public places, caballeros frequently refers to the men's room (gents).
caballeros(Noun)
men's room
?Sign on a restroom door
gents
?Informal British English for men's room
📝 In Action
Disculpe, ¿dónde está el baño de caballeros?
A1Excuse me, where is the men's restroom?
La puerta de la izquierda dice 'Caballeros'.
A1The door on the left says 'Gentlemen' (Men's Room).
❌ Common Pitfalls
It's Not a Room Full of Gentlemen
Mistake: "Seeing 'Caballeros' on a door and thinking it's a private club or meeting room."
Correction: Remember that on a door, 'Caballeros' almost always means 'Men's Restroom'. It's a shortened way of saying 'Baño para caballeros' (Restroom for gentlemen).
⭐ Usage Tips
Look for the Sign
When you're looking for a public toilet in a Spanish-speaking country, you'll often see two doors: one marked 'Damas' (Ladies) and one marked 'Caballeros' (Gentlemen).
Historically, caballeros refers to knights or horsemen, reflecting the word's origin from caballo (horse).
caballeros(Noun)
knights
?Historical warriors
horsemen
?Men on horseback
,cavaliers
?Archaic term for horsemen
📝 In Action
La historia trata sobre los caballeros de la Mesa Redonda.
B2The story is about the Knights of the Round Table.
En el museo vimos armaduras de caballeros medievales.
B1At the museum, we saw armor of medieval knights.
⭐ Usage Tips
From Horse to Gentleman
This meaning is the origin of the word! 'Caballero' comes from 'caballo' (horse), because knights rode horses. Over time, the word evolved to mean a man with a noble character, like a knight, and eventually 'gentleman'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: caballeros
Question 1 of 1
You see a door with the word 'Caballeros' on it in a restaurant. What is it?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'caballeros' old-fashioned?
When used to mean 'gentlemen', it is more formal and polite than just saying 'hombres' (men). It's not necessarily old-fashioned, but it's used in situations where you want to show respect, like addressing an audience ('Damas y caballeros...'). For the historical meaning 'knights' and the restroom sign, it's the standard word.
Can I use 'caballeros' to talk about my male friends?
It would sound very formal and a bit funny. For friends, it's more natural to use 'chicos', 'amigos', or 'muchachos'. You might use 'caballeros' jokingly with them, though.