Inklingo

cochero

ko-CHAY-roh/koˈt͡ʃeɾo/

cochero means coachman in Spanish (a person who drives a horse-drawn carriage).

coachman

Also: carriage driver
NounmB1
Spain
A man in a vintage hat and coat sitting atop a wooden carriage, holding the reins of a horse.

📝 In Action

El cochero guiaba los caballos con mucha habilidad.

A2

The coachman was leading the horses with great skill.

En las películas antiguas, el cochero siempre lleva un sombrero de copa.

B1

In old movies, the coachman always wears a top hat.

Contratamos a un cochero para recorrer el centro histórico en carroza.

B2

We hired a carriage driver to tour the historic center in a horse-drawn carriage.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • auriga (charioteer (very formal/ancient))
  • carretero (wagoner)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • látigo de cocherocoachman's whip
  • oficio de cocherothe trade of a carriage driver

Idioms & Expressions

  • hablar como un cocheroto swear a lot or use very foul language

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "cochero" in Spanish:

carriage drivercoachman

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: cochero

Question 1 of 3

What is a 'cochero' most likely to be driving?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
coche(car / carriage)Noun
cochera(garage / coach house)Noun
cochecito(stroller / small car)Noun
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

From 'coche' (carriage), which actually traces back to the Hungarian word 'kocsi', named after the town of Kocs where high-quality carriages were first made in the 15th century.

First recorded: 16th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: coachmanFrench: cocher

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'cochero' still a common job today?

Not in the traditional sense of transportation. Today, cocheros mostly work in the tourism industry, giving carriage rides in historic cities, or in ceremonial roles for royalty.

Does 'cochero' mean the same thing in Latin America and Spain?

Yes, the meaning is consistent across the Spanish-speaking world, though the frequency of seeing one depends on how much a city preserves its horse-and-carriage traditions.

What is the female version of 'cochero'?

The female version is 'cochera', though traditionally this was a male-dominated profession. Note that 'cochera' also commonly means 'garage' in many countries.