capitán
/ka-pee-TAHN/
captain
El capitán del equipo. Capitán refers to the leader of a group, such as a sports team captain or a military officer.
📝 In Action
El capitán del equipo marcó el gol de la victoria.
A2The team captain scored the winning goal.
El capitán dio la orden de avanzar.
B1The captain gave the order to advance.
💡 Grammar Points
Male and Female Forms
Like many words for people, 'capitán' changes for gender. Use 'el capitán' for a male captain and 'la capitana' for a female captain.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Accent Mark
Mistake: "El capitan del equipo es muy bueno."
Correction: El capitán del equipo es muy bueno. The little line over the 'á' is super important! It tells you to put the stress on the last part of the word: ca-pi-TÁN.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Capitán' as a Title
You can address a captain directly using their title, similar to English. For example, 'Sí, mi capitán' (Yes, my captain).
El capitán del barco. Capitán is also used specifically for the person in command of a ship or aircraft.
capitán(Noun)
captain
?of a ship or aircraft
skipper
?informal, for a boat
,master
?of a merchant vessel
📝 In Action
El capitán del barco anunció que llegaríamos pronto al puerto.
B1The ship's captain announced we would arrive at the port soon.
Les habla el capitán; estamos comenzando nuestro descenso a Madrid.
B1This is your captain speaking; we are beginning our descent into Madrid.
⭐ Usage Tips
'Comandante' vs. 'Capitán'
For airplanes, you'll often hear 'comandante' used just as much as 'capitán'. Both refer to the pilot in command.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: capitán
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'capitán' to refer to the leader of a sports team?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'capitán' and 'jefe'?
'Capitán' is very specific. It's used for the designated leader of a team (like in sports), a military unit, a ship, or a plane. 'Jefe' is much more general and just means 'boss' or 'chief' in almost any context, like at an office.
How do I make 'capitán' plural?
To talk about more than one captain, you add '-es' at the end: 'los capitanes'. For example, 'Los dos capitanes se saludaron' (The two captains greeted each other).
Is there a female version of 'capitán'?
Yes! For a female captain, you use the word 'capitana'. For example, 'La capitana del equipo es mi hermana' (The team captain is my sister).