Inklingo
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camarero

/kah-mah-REH-roh/

waiter

A smiling man dressed as a waiter, wearing a white shirt and black vest, holding a silver tray with a covered dish, standing in a simple restaurant setting.

A waiter serving guests in a restaurant is called a camarero.

camarero(noun)

mA1

waiter

?

A man who serves food and drinks in a restaurant or bar.

Also:

server

?

General term for someone serving customers.

📝 In Action

Disculpe, camarero, ¿me trae la cuenta, por favor?

A1

Excuse me, waiter, could you bring me the bill, please?

El camarero fue muy atento y nos recomendó un vino excelente.

A2

The waiter was very attentive and recommended an excellent wine.

¿Dónde está el camarero? Necesitamos pedir más pan.

A1

Where is the waiter? We need to order more bread.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • mesero (waiter (common in Latin America))
  • mozo (young waiter/bellhop (regional))

Common Collocations

  • llamar al camarero – to call the waiter
  • propinas para el camarero – tips for the waiter

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Matching

Remember to use 'la camarera' when referring to a female server, and 'el camarero' for a male server.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Calling Attention

Mistake: "Using '¡Oye!' (Hey!) to get the server's attention."

Correction: It is much politer to say 'Disculpe' (Excuse me) or 'Perdón' (Pardon me) before saying 'camarero'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Regional Differences

While 'camarero' is understood everywhere, in many parts of Latin America, you will hear 'mesero' used much more often.

A person in a professional uniform, serving as a flight steward, standing in the aisle of an airplane cabin next to a service cart.

The term camarero can also refer to a steward or attendant on transportation, like an airplane.

camarero(noun)

mB1

steward

?

An attendant on a ship, train, or plane.

Also:

cabin attendant

?

Someone who serves passengers in a cabin or sleeper car.

📝 In Action

El camarero del barco nos mostró nuestra cabina.

B1

The ship steward showed us our cabin.

Pedimos al camarero del tren que nos trajera mantas extra.

B2

We asked the train attendant to bring us extra blankets.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • auxiliar de vuelo (flight attendant)
  • asistente (assistant/attendant)

💡 Grammar Points

Service Role

This meaning emphasizes the general role of serving or attending to people, usually in a setting that involves travel or lodging, linking back to the idea of a 'room' (cámara).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: camarero

Question 1 of 2

Which of these is the most polite way to get the attention of a male server in Spain?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

camarera(waitress / female server) - noun
camarería(comradeship / fellowship) - noun
cámara(room / chamber) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'mesero' or 'camarero' better to use?

Both words mean 'waiter.' 'Camarero' is the standard term in Spain. 'Mesero' is the standard term across most of Latin America. If you are unsure, 'camarero' is generally understood everywhere.

How do I refer to a female server?

You use the feminine form of the noun: 'la camarera' or 'la mesera'.